Complete List of Michael Jackson Songs From A to Z

Complete List Of Michael Jackson Songs From A to Z

Photo by Vicki L. Miller Licensed from Shutterstock

Michael Jackson, a visionary artist who reshaped popular music and culture, was born on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana. Growing up as the eighth of ten children in a family passionate about music, Jackson’s journey to superstardom began when he joined his older brothers in the Jackson 5. The group quickly rose to fame in the late 1960s under the guidance of Motown Records, dazzling audiences with hits like “I Want You Back” and “ABC.” Even as a child, Michael’s dynamic stage presence and emotive voice set him apart, foreshadowing the solo career that would later cement his legacy.

The 1970s marked Jackson’s evolution as a solo artist, with albums like Got to Be There and Ben showcasing his ability to balance heartfelt ballads with contemporary pop. His collaboration with Quincy Jones on Off the Wall in 1979 signified a pivotal moment. The album’s infectious tracks, including “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough” and “Rock with You,” achieved commercial and critical acclaim, selling millions of copies and winning Jackson his first Grammy. This project not only demonstrated his versatility but also hinted at his future dominance of the global music stage.

In 1982, Jackson released Thriller, a cultural phenomenon that transcended music. The album’s innovative production, combined with iconic tracks like “Billie Jean” and “Beat It,” revolutionized the industry. Its music videos broke new ground, with the short film for “Thriller” becoming a landmark in visual storytelling. Garnering eight Grammy Awards and holding the title of the best-selling album of all time, Thriller solidified Jackson’s reputation as a musical genius and a pop culture juggernaut.

Following the unprecedented success of Thriller, Jackson continued to push boundaries with Bad (1987). With hits such as “Man in the Mirror” and “Smooth Criminal,” the album further showcased his ability to innovate and connect with diverse audiences. Jackson’s elaborate world tours and groundbreaking stage performances, including his signature moonwalk, redefined live entertainment. Albums like Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995) demonstrated his willingness to explore social issues, blending introspection with universal themes of hope and unity.

Throughout his career, Jackson’s influence extended beyond music. He supported numerous charitable causes, including his own Heal the World Foundation, and contributed millions to global humanitarian efforts. His pioneering music videos on MTV, his fashion statements, and his genre-blurring compositions inspired countless artists across generations. Accolades poured in, from Grammy Awards to inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, underscoring his impact as both an entertainer and a cultural icon.

Even as controversies and personal challenges shaped the later years of his life, Jackson’s artistic achievements remained unparalleled. His 2009 death at the age of 50 stunned the world, but his legacy endured through his timeless music and enduring influence. Albums like This Is It, posthumously released, offered glimpses of his creative vision, while his catalog continued to resonate with new audiences.

(A – C)

“2 Bad”HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995)
“2000 Watts”Invincible (2001)
“2300 Jackson Street”2300 Jackson Street (1989)
“A Brand New Day”The Wiz (1978)
“A Place with No Name”Xscape (2014)
“Ain’t No Sunshine”Got to Be There (1972)
“Al Capone”Bad 25 (2012)
“All in Your Name”Standalone Single (2011)
“All the Things You Are”Music & Me (1973)
“Another Part of Me”Bad (1987)
“Baby Be Mine”Thriller (1982)
“Bad”Bad (1987)
“Be a Lion”The Wiz (1978)
“Beat It”Thriller (1982)
“Beautiful Girl”The Ultimate Collection (2004)
“Behind the Mask”Michael (2010)
“Ben”Ben (1972)
“Best of Joy”Michael (2010)
“Billie Jean”Thriller (1982)
“Black or White”Dangerous (1991)
“Blood on the Dance Floor”Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix (1997)
“Blue Gangsta”Xscape (2014)
“Break of Dawn”Invincible (2001)
“Burn This Disco Out”Off the Wall (1979)
“Butterflies”Invincible (2001)
“Call on Me”Farewell My Summer Love (1984)
“Can’t Get Outta the Rain”B-side of “The Girl Is Mine” (1982)
“Can’t Let Her Get Away”Dangerous (1991)
“Carousel”Thriller (Special Edition) (2001)
“Centipede”Centipede (1984)
“Cheater”The Ultimate Collection (2004)
“Chicago”Xscape (2014)
“Childhood”HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995)
“Cinderella Stay Awhile”Forever, Michael (1975)
“Come Together”HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995)
“Cry”Invincible (2001)

(D – F)

“D.S.”HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995)
“Dangerous”Dangerous (1991)
“Dapper-Dan”Forever, Michael (1975)
“Dear Michael”Forever, Michael (1975)
“Dirty Diana”Bad (1987)
“Do You Know Where Your Children Are”Xscape (2014)
“Doggin’ Around”Music & Me (1973)
“Don’t Be Messin’ ‘Round”Bad 25 (2012)
“Don’t Let It Get You Down”Farewell My Summer Love (1984)
“Don’t Matter to Me”Scorpion (2018)
“Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”Off the Wall (1979)
“Don’t Walk Away”Invincible (2001)
“Earth Song”HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995)
“Ease on Down the Road”The Wiz (1978)
“Eaten Alive”Eaten Alive (1985)
“Euphoria”Music & Me (1973)
“Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool”Ben (1972)
“Fall Again”The Ultimate Collection (2004)
“Farewell My Summer Love”Farewell My Summer Love (1984)
“Fly Away”Bad (Special Edition) (2001)
“For All Time”Thriller 25 (2008)
“Free”Bad 25 (2012)

(G – J)

“Get It”Characters (1987)
“Get on the Floor”Off the Wall (1979)
“Ghosts”Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix (1997)
“Girl Don’t Take Your Love from Me”Got to Be There (1972)
“Girl You’re So Together”Farewell My Summer Love (1984)
“Girlfriend”Off the Wall (1979)
“Give In to Me”Dangerous (1991)
“Gone Too Soon”Dangerous (1991)
“Got the Hots”Thriller 25 (Japanese Edition) (2008)
“Got to Be There”Got to Be There (1972)
“Greatest Show on Earth”Ben (1972)
“Happy”Music & Me (1973)
“Heal the World”Dangerous (1991)
“Heartbreaker”Invincible (2001)
“Heaven Can Wait”Invincible (2001)
“Here I Am (Come and Take Me)”Farewell My Summer Love (1984)
“HIStory”HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995)
“Hold My Hand”Michael (2010)
“Hollywood Tonight”Michael (2010)
“Human Nature”Thriller (1982)
“I Can’t Help It”Off the Wall (1979)
“(I Can’t Make It) Another Day”Michael (2010)
“I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”Bad (1987)
“(I Like) The Way You Love Me”Michael (2010)
“I Wanna Be Where You Are”Got to Be There (1972)
“If’n I Was God”Looking Back to Yesterday (1986)
“I’ll Come Home to You”Forever, Michael (1975)
“I’m in Love Again”Love Lives Forever (1980)
“I’m So Blue”Bad 25 (2012)
“In Our Small Way”Got to Be There (1972)
“In the Back”The Ultimate Collection (2004)
“In the Closet”Dangerous (1991)
“Invincible”Invincible (2001)
“Is It Scary”Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix (1997)
“It’s the Falling in Love”Off the Wall (1979)
“Jam”Dangerous (1991)
“Je Ne Veux Pas la Fin de Nous”Bad 25 (2012)
“Johnny Raven”Music & Me (1973)
“Just a Little Bit of You”Forever, Michael (1975)
“Just Friends”Sometimes Late at Night (1981)
“Just Good Friends”Bad (1987)

(K – O)

(T )

Check out our fantastic and entertaining Michael Jackson articles, detailing in-depth the band’s albums, songs, band members, and more…all on ClassicRockHistory.com

Michael Jackson’s Best Song On Each Of His Studio Albums

Complete List Of Michael Jackson Albums And Discography

Top 10 Michael Jackson Album Covers

Top 10 Michael Jackson Songs

Read More: Artists’ Interviews Directory At ClassicRockHistory.com

Read More: Classic Rock Bands List And Directory

Complete List of Michael Jackson Songs From A to Z article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2024

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About The Author

Brian Kachejian

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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.

Complete List Of ABBA Songs From A to Z

Complete List Of ABBA Songs From A to Z

Feature Photo: Kåre Eide, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

ABBA, the Swedish pop sensation, originated in Stockholm in 1972, bringing together the talents of Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The group’s name is an acronym formed from the first letters of each member’s name. Prior to forming ABBA, each member had established themselves in the Swedish music scene: Fältskog and Lyngstad as solo artists, and Ulvaeus and Andersson as members of successful bands. Their collaboration began with the single “People Need Love” in 1972, marking the inception of their journey as a quartet.

ABBA’s breakthrough came in 1974 when they won the Eurovision Song Contest with “Waterloo,” propelling them to international fame. Over the course of their career, they released nine studio albums: Ring Ring (1973), Waterloo (1974), ABBA (1975), Arrival (1976), ABBA: The Album (1977), Voulez-Vous (1979), Super Trouper (1980), The Visitors (1981), and Voyage (2021). Their discography includes chart-topping singles such as “Dancing Queen,” “Mamma Mia,” “Take a Chance on Me,” and “The Winner Takes It All,” which have become timeless classics.

Throughout their career, ABBA received numerous accolades. In 1977, they were nominated for the inaugural BRIT Award for Best International Album for Arrival. They were honored with the Dutch Edison Award for The Album in 1978. In 1980, they received a Georgie Award from the American Guild of Variety Artists as the Best Vocal Group of the Year. Their enduring legacy was further cemented with their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

ABBA’s appeal lies in their ability to craft catchy melodies paired with relatable lyrics, transcending language barriers and resonating with audiences worldwide. Their innovative use of studio technology and harmonious vocals set them apart in the pop music landscape. The group’s flamboyant fashion and dynamic stage presence added to their charm, making them icons of the 1970s and early 1980s.

Beyond their musical achievements, the members of ABBA have engaged in various endeavors. Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus collaborated on musicals such as Chess and contributed to the creation of the stage musical Mamma Mia!, which was later adapted into successful films. Anni-Frid Lyngstad pursued a solo career and became involved in environmental causes, while Agnetha Fältskog also released solo albums and participated in charitable activities.

ABBA’s influence extends beyond their active years, with their music experiencing resurgences in popularity through various media. The release of the compilation album ABBA Gold in 1992 introduced their hits to new generations. The success of the Mamma Mia! musical and films further solidified their status in popular culture. In 2021, they surprised fans with the release of Voyage, their first studio album in 40 years, accompanied by a virtual concert residency featuring digital avatars of their younger selves, showcasing their willingness to embrace new technology.

(A – D)

“ABBA Undeleted”Thank You for the Music (1994)
“Al Andar”Gracias por la música (1980)
“Andante, Andante”Super Trouper (1980)
“Andante, Andante” (Spanish Version)Super Trouper (Latin American and Spanish versions) (1980)
“Angeleyes”Voulez-Vous (1979)
“Another Town, Another Train”Ring Ring (1973)
“Arrival”Arrival (1976)
“As Good as New”Voulez-Vous (1979)
“Bang-A-Boomerang”ABBA (1975)
“Bumblebee”Voyage (2021)
“Cassandra” – B-side to “The Day Before You Came” (1982)
“Chiquitita”Voulez-Vous (1979)
“Chiquitita” (Spanish Version)Gracias por la música (1980)
“Conociéndome, conociéndote”Gracias por la música (1980)
“Crazy World” – B-side to “Money, Money, Money” (1976)
“¡Dame! ¡Dame! ¡Dame!”Gracias por la música (1980)
“Dance (While the Music Still Goes On)”Waterloo (1974)
“Dancing Queen”Arrival (1976)
“The Day Before You Came”The Singles: The First Ten Years (1982)
“Disillusion”Ring Ring (1973)
“Does Your Mother Know”Voulez-Vous (1979)
“Don’t Shut Me Down”Voyage (2021)
“Dream World”Thank You for the Music (1994)
“Dum Dum Diddle”Arrival (1976)

(E – H)

“Eagle”The Album (1977)
“Elaine” – B-side to “The Winner Takes It All” (1980)
“En hälsning till våra parkarrangörer” – Swedish promo single 1972 (1972)
“Estoy Soñando”Gracias por la música (1980)
“Felicidad”Super Trouper (Latin American and Spanish versions) (1980)
“Fernando” – Standalone single (1976)
“Fernando” (Spanish Version)Gracias por la música (1980)
“From a Twinkling Star to a Passing Angel”The Visitors (Deluxe Edition) (2012)
“Gammal fäbodspalm” (Live)Live at Wembley Arena (2014)
“Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)”Voulez-Vous (1979)
“Gonna Sing You My Love Song”Waterloo (1974)
“Gracias por la música”Gracias por la música (1980)
“Happy Hawaii” – B-side to “Knowing Me, Knowing You” (1977)
“Happy New Year”Super Trouper (1980)
“Hasta Mañana”Waterloo (1974)
“Hasta Mañana” (Spanish Version)Gracias por la música (1980)
“He Is Your Brother”Ring Ring (1973)
“Head over Heels”The Visitors (1981)
“Hey, Hey Helen”ABBA (1975)
“Hole in Your Soul”The Album (1977)
“Honey, Honey”Waterloo (1974)
“Honey, Honey” (Swedish Version) – B-side to “Waterloo” (Swedish Version) (1974)
“Hovas vittne” – Private release promo single (1981)

(I – L)

“I Am Just a Girl”Ring Ring (1973)
“I Am the City”More ABBA Gold (1993)
“I Can Be That Woman”Voyage (2021)
“I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do”ABBA (1975)
“I Have a Dream”Voulez-Vous (1979)
“I Let the Music Speak”The Visitors (1981)
“I Saw It in the Mirror”Ring Ring (1973)
“I Wonder (Departure)”The Album (1977)
“If It Wasn’t for the Nights”Voulez-Vous (1979)
“I’m a Marionette”The Album (1977)
“I’m Still Alive” (Live)Live at Wembley Arena (2014)
“Intermezzo No. 1” (Instrumental)ABBA (1975)
“I Still Have Faith in You”Voyage (2021)
“I’ve Been Waiting for You”ABBA (1975)
“Just a Notion”Voyage (2021)
“Keep an Eye on Dan”Voyage (2021)
“The King Has Lost His Crown”Voulez-Vous (1979)
“King Kong Song”Waterloo (1974)
“Kisses of Fire”Voulez-Vous (1979)
“Knowing Me, Knowing You”Arrival (1976)
“La reina del baile” (also titled “Reina Danzante”)Gracias por la música (1980)
“Lay All Your Love on Me”Super Trouper (1980)
“Like an Angel Passing Through My Room”The Visitors (1981)
“Little Things”Voyage (2021)
“Love Isn’t Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)”Ring Ring (1973)
“Lovelight” – B-side to “Chiquitita” (1979)
“Lovers (Live a Little Longer)”Voulez-Vous (1979)

(M – R)

“Mamma Mia”ABBA (1975)
“Mamma Mía” (Spanish Version)Gracias por la música (1980)
“Man in the Middle”ABBA (1975)
“Me and Bobby and Bobby’s Brother”Ring Ring (1973)
“Me and I”Super Trouper (1980)
“Medley: Pick a Bale of Cotton / On Top of Old Smokey / Midnight Special”Stars im Zeichen eines guten Sterns (1975)
“Money, Money, Money”Arrival (1976)
“Move On”The Album (1977)
“My Love, My Life”Arrival (1976)
“My Mama Said”Waterloo (1974)
“The Name of the Game”The Album (1977)
“Nina, Pretty Ballerina”Ring Ring (1973)
“No Doubt About It”Voyage (2021)
“No hay a quien culpar”The Visitors (Latin American and Spanish versions) (1981)
“Ode to Freedom”Voyage (2021)
“On and On and On”Super Trouper (1980)
“One Man, One Woman”The Album (1977)
“One of Us”The Visitors (1981)
“Our Last Summer”Super Trouper (1980)
“People Need Love” – “People Need Love” standalone single (1972)
“The Piper”Super Trouper (1980)
“Put on Your White Sombrero”Thank You for the Music (1994)
“Ring Ring”Ring Ring (1973)
“Ring Ring (Bara du slog en signal)”Ring Ring (Scandinavian versions) (1973)
“Ring Ring” (German Version) – “Ring Ring” German single (1973)
“Ring Ring” (Spanish Version)ABBA Más Oro: Más ABBA Exitos (1993)
“Ring Ring” (Swedish/Spanish/German Medley)Thank You for the Music (1994)
“Rock Me”ABBA (1975)
“Rock ‘N’ Roll Band”Ring Ring (1973)

(S – Z)

“Santa Rosa” – B-side to He Is Your Brother (1972)
“Se me está escapando”The Visitors (Latin American and Spanish versions) (1981)
“She’s My Kind of Girl”Ring Ring (International versions) (1973)
“Should I Laugh or Cry” – B-side to One of Us (1981)
“Sitting in the Palmtree”Waterloo (1974)
“Slipping Through My Fingers”The Visitors (1981)
“So Long”ABBA (1975)
“Soldiers”The Visitors (1981)
“SOS”ABBA (1975)
“Summer Night City”Summer Night City standalone single (1978)
“Super Trouper”Super Trouper (1980)
“Suzy-Hang-Around”Waterloo (1974)
“Sång till Görel”Sång till Görel private release promo single (1979)
“Take a Chance on Me”The Album (1977)
“Thank You for the Music”The Album (1977)
“Thank You for the Music” (Doris Day Version)Thank You for the Music (1994)
“That’s Me”Arrival (1976)
“Tivedshambo” (Instrumental) – B-side to Hovas vittne private release promo single (1981)
“Tiger”Arrival (1976)
“Tropical Loveland”ABBA (1975)
“Two For the Price of One”The Visitors (1981)
“Under Attack”The Singles: The First Ten Years (1982)
“The Visitors”The Visitors (1981)
“Voulez-Vous”Voulez-Vous (1979)
“Watch Out”Waterloo (1974)
“Waterloo”Waterloo (1974)
“Waterloo” (French Version)Waterloo French single (1974)
“Waterloo” (French/Swedish Medley)Thank You for the Music (1994)
“Waterloo” (German Version)Waterloo West German single (1974)
“Waterloo” (Swedish Version)Waterloo Swedish single (1974)
“The Way Old Friends Do” (Live)Super Trouper (1980)
“Wer im Wartesaal der Liebe steht” – B-side to Ring Ring German single (1973)
“The Winner Takes It All”Super Trouper (1980)
“What About Livingstone?”Waterloo (1974)
“When All is Said and Done”The Visitors (1981)
“When I Kissed the Teacher”Arrival (1976)
“When You Danced with Me”Voyage (2021)
“Why Did It Have to Be Me?”Arrival (1976)
“You Owe Me One” – B-side to Under Attack (1982)
“Åh, vilka tider” – B-side to Ring Ring (Bara du slog en signal) (1973)

Check out our fantastic and entertaining ABBA articles, detailing in-depth the band’s albums, songs, band members, and more…all on ClassicRockHistory.com

Complete List Of ABBA Band Members

Complete List Of ABBA Albums And Discography

ABBA’s New Album Is Their Highest Charting Album Ever In U.S.

ABBA Voyage Album Review: Just Released New ABBA Music

ABBA Returns With First New Album In Forty Years

Top 10 ABBA Songs

Read More: Artists’ Interviews Directory At ClassicRockHistory.com

Read More: Classic Rock Bands List And Directory

Complete List Of ABBA Songs From A to Z article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2024

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MARKO HIETALA Talks Living With ADHD – “It’s A Relief To Know That There Are Things In Your History And In Yourself That You Just Cannot Help” (Video)

MARKO HIETALA Talks Living With ADHD -

Jorge Botas at Metal Global caught up with formere Nightwish bassist / vocalist Marko Hietala to discuss his forthcoming solo album, as well as his health and his decision to leave Nightwish in January 2021. Check out the interview below.

Hietala has gone on record numerous times saying that suffereing from depression and anxiety played a major role in his decision to leave Nightwish, and in his discussion with Botas he reveals it was ADHD (attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder) related.

Hietala: “It’s that feeling of difference that you do not match the other people’s capabilities of handling their daily tasks or whatever. And I was just always lost; everything was a mess and all that. And what do you know? There it is, the ADHD. It makes you, as a social creature, a tribal creature, that kind of a thing, the social isolation, it’s a slow way to death. We know that loneliness is a killer. Well, yeah, but I kind of learned to deal with it ever since I was a kid, but it doesn’t really make it necessarily easier. It had its consequences, and I was like that: ‘Nothing I ever do will make anything any better. Everything is grey and worthless, and I am too.’ That was the thing that had been growing on me. So, when this ADHD thing came up, then I read about it, went to the neuropsychological test and all that, and yep, I got it.”

 “It’s a relief to know that there are things in your history and in yourself that you just cannot help. That’s what you are. So a lot of kind of guilt about things that were left undone or unsaid, or went went straight to hell from the things you did and said, suddenly you find out that, okay, actually, no matter how much you wish you would have acted differently, you couldn’t, with the knowledge you had that time. And you can forgive yourself for the shit. Then again, you can also forgive quite a lot of other people for not understanding. So, yeah, it’s a relief. You get a load off your chest.”

Accompanying the release of Marko Hietala’s new single “Rebel Of The North” is a unique and visually striking music video. Filmed against the breathtaking backdrop of a picturesque Spanish village, the video captures the band’s electrifying performance, seamlessly blended with the song’s bold and inspiring lyrics. The stunning contrast between the rugged rock sound and the tranquil Mediterranean setting makes this release a feast for the senses.

Marko Hietala comments: “This one is a rocker. The main riff will put you into the Nordics with a slam. And the story is about reimagining, reinventing, and then gathering yourself into a better new being. We should never take ourselves for granted. It leads to becoming jaded and boring. Your inner kid wants to learn and apply anything and everything. Just don’t get in the way of yourself.”

Listen to “Rebel Of The North” here, and watch the video below:

To mark the new album release, Marko Hietala will embark with his band on an album release tour across Finland. Dates below:

February
7 – Lahti, Finland – Finlandia Klubi
8 – Kuopio, Finland – Sawohouse Underground
12 – Helsinki, Finland – Tavastia
13 – Savonlinna, Finland – House Of Olaf
14 – Tampere, Finland – Olympia-kortteli
15 – Turku, Finland – Logomo

Roses From The Deep will be released in following formats:

– CD Jewelcase
– 2 LP gatefold, oxblood red

Pre-order here.

CD tracklisting:

“Frankenstein’s Wife”
“Left On Mars”
“Proud Whore”
“Two Soldiers”
“Dragon Must Die”
“The Devil You Know”
“Rebel Of The North”
“Impatient Zero”
“Tammikuu”
“Roses From The Deep”

LP tracklisting:

“Frankenstein’s Wife”
“Left On Mars”
“Proud Whore”
“Two Soldiers”
“Dragon Must Die”
“The Devil You Know”
“Rebel Of The North”
“Impatient Zero”
“Tammikuu”
“Roses From The Deep”
“Impatient Zero” (Edit)
“Frankenstein’s Wife” (Live at Utrecht 2024)
“Left On Mars” (Live at Utrecht 2024)

“Impatient Zero” video:

“Frankenstein’s Wife” video:

“Left On Mars” video:

Lineup:

Marko Hietala – Bass, Vocals
Tuomas Wäinölä – Guitar
Vili Ollila / Bob Engstrand – Keyboards
Anssi Nykänen – Drums


ALEX SKOLNICK, ERIC PETERSON, SCOTT IAN, GARY HOLT, DAVID ELLEFSON And More Play The Riffs That First Influenced Them (Video)

ALEX SKOLNICK, ERIC PETERSON, SCOTT IAN, GARY HOLT, DAVID ELLEFSON And More Play The Riffs That First Influenced Them (Video)

Loudwire has shared a new Gear Factor compilation video. Check it out below. 

“Watch thrash legends like Scott Ian (Anthrax), Gary Holt (Exodus, Slayer), Alex Skolnick and Eric Peterson (Testament) and more play some of the riffs that made them into the musicians they are today.”

Gibson TV recently released a new episode of Riff Lords, along with the following message:

“Horns up! Make your New Year’s resolution to shred a reality with Gibson TV. Start your year strong with this new episode of Riff Lords featuring Eric Peterson of Testament breaking down 30 years of epic riffs. Learn from the master himself and make 2025 the year you level up your playing.

“Eric Peterson has been a thrash metal mainstay since co-founding Testament in 1983 and has influenced countless guitarists with his killer (and intricate) riffs, guitar techniques, and unique approach to chord phrasing, rhythm, and lead guitar. Grab your axe and hit play on this episode of Riff Lords to join Eric as he shows you how to play some of the most iconic Testament tracks that helped shape the metal scene.

“In this episode of Riff Lords, watch and learn how Eric Peterson creates his thrash metal sound, his picking and riff writing techniques, plus some backstory on how he wrote these parts. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at his process while learning to play Testament classics like ‘Over the Wall’ from The Legacy and ‘The Preacher’ from The New Order. Eric also breaks down some of Testament’s heaviest songs, including ‘D.N.R. (Do Not Resuscitate)’ from The Gathering and ‘Rise Up’ from Dark Roots of Earth.

“For acoustic fans, Eric plays stripped-down versions of ‘The Ballad’ from Practice What You Preach, plus more classic Testament guitar lessons that show you the correct way to play each riff, slowed down so you can follow along easily.

“Find out how he gets his riff tones and the techniques that have kept Testament at the top of the heavy metal heap for decades. These Testament guitar lessons from Eric Peterson are must-see for any Testament fan and thrash metal enthusiast.”

Catch Testament live at the following shows:

May
9 – Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival 2025 – Columbus, OH
18 – Welcome To Rockville 2025 – Daytona Beach, FL

June
18 – The Tivoli – Brisbane, Australia
20 – Metro Theatre – Sydney, Australia
21 – Northcote Theatre – Northcote, Australia
22 – The Gov – Hindmarsh, Australia
24 – Metropolis – Fremantle, Australia


Former SKID ROW Frontman ERIK GRÖNWALL Kicks Off 2025 With Fan-Fuelled Q&A (Video)

Former SKID ROW Frontman ERIK GRÖNWALL Kicks Off 2025 With Fan-Fuelled Q&A (Video)

Former Skid Row frontman, Erik Grönwall, has shared a new video along with the following introduction:

Erik: “Let’s start 2025 with a Q&A – thank you for all your questions. If your question wasn’t answered – don’t worry. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to ask me anything during our upcoming livestreams this year!” 

When asked if he would ever consider rejoining his pre-Skid Row band, H.E.A.T, Erik offered the following:

“I love the guys. Jona, the keyboard player, he’s the godfather of my son. I stay in touch with the guys. I always say you should keep all doors open, but right now that feels like that’s a closed chapter.”

Live In London, Skid Row’s first official live album and concert film in a 35+ year career, is now available on heavyweight 2LP gatefold, CD + DVD, digital download and all streaming services via earMUSIC.

“Youth Gone Wild” is the latest video from the full program, and captures the rapture of a sold out 02 Forum Kentish Town London gone wild for the Skids and the culmination of a dream years in the making.

“As teens, we dreamt of playing places like the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ and CBGB in New York City… our dreams became bigger with London, England at the forefront. We fantasized one day to headline a show in the very city where so many of our favorite bands came from,” the band says.

Following the release of their critically acclaimed, hugely fan-embraced 2022 album The Gang’s All Here, the band took the 02 stage on October 22 and delivered a Skid Row set for the ages. Running through their multi-platinum career, the packed venue could barely contain the band’s and the fans’ energy on “18 And Life,” “Monkey Business,” “I Remember You” and so many other peak Skid Row moments.

Live In London is a defining live rock album… a band playing at the top of their game in front of a crowd that expected no less. Both Skid Row and the 02 public went far beyond expectations…and now the world can share in that moment.

Order/save the album now on Vinyl, CD, and all digital formats, here

“Slave To The Grind” (Live In London) video:

“Piece Of Me” (Live In London) video:


“Every night I was living out my teenage fantasy.” Lzzy Hale talks joining childhood heroes Skid Row

Lzzy Hale Halestorm
(Image credit: Press/Halestorm)

Lzzy Hale is too young to have been an actual 80s rock star, but she grew up dreaming of being one. When one of her favourite bands from that era, New Jersey hellraisers Skid Row, announced the departure of their latest singer, Erik Grönwall, for health reasons, she got the call to replace him, fronting the band for four spectacular shows. This is what it was like to temporarily land the gig of a lifetime.

A divider for Metal Hammer

Lzzy Hale, Skid Row frontwoman. It’s got a great ring to it. How did you end up singing with your childhood heroes? 

“Oh my goodness. It was a true full circle moment for me. When I told my dad, he was saying things like, ‘Hey, do you remember when you were rocking out to Skid Row’s Slave To The Grind in 1996, blasting it in your room?’ Every night [onstage with Skid Row], I was living out my teenage fantasy. Growing up, all I really wanted was to be that rock dude on MTV, riffing out in an 80s music video. It was so wonderful to be able to step into that role.” 

How did the guys first approach you with the idea? 

“Well, I’ve known Rachel [Bolan, bassist] and Snake [guitarist Dave ‘Snake’ Sabo] for the better part of a decade. One day, Rachel and I are eating cake at a birthday party. Out of the blue, he just asks me, ‘Would you ever consider playing some shows with us?’ My dumb brain goes, ‘Halestorm and Skid Row, that’d be cool!’ Obviously, that’s not what he means. 

He’s like, ‘No, dummy, I mean you fronting Skid Row!’ Not even a week later, he calls me up, and it’s actually happening. He asks, ‘Are you in?’ So I called my ‘adults’ in management and cleared my schedule immediately.” 

How did you prepare for it? 

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“I was learning the songs like an Olympic sport. I’m singing on a trampoline, a stationary bike, working on my breath control. It was madness. But I was doing it because I wanted to be good for my friends. I can’t express how much I appreciate the trust they had in me. We didn’t even have proper rehearsal time, just one run-through together the day before the first show.” 

When the first show came around, how did you feel? 

“Before going out, I was nervous. Like, really nervous. But we got through it. By the second show, I just felt pure excitement. All I could think was, ‘This is amazing, I’m literally living out my teenage dreams right now!’” 

What was a standout moment for you? 

“On the third night, I’d started taking some liberties – holding notes a little longer, singing a little higher. When we got to Quicksand Jesus, I just kept dragging the song out. Snake played his usual guitar part, and I would imitate it with my voice – and he’d look panicked and play some more. After the show, he comes up like, ‘Lzzy, can I talk to you for a second?’ I immediately think I’m in trouble. But he gives me this huge hug. And he goes, ‘I have never gotten to improv with any of my singers.’ I will carry that with me forever.”

Skid Row x Lzzy Hale – “Youth Gone Wild” (in 4K) live in Sparks, NV. 5-31-24 – YouTube Skid Row x Lzzy Hale -

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How did the fans react to the shows?

“When the shows were announced, it was like a dam broke loose. I was hearing from people back home that I hadn’t heard from in 15 years saying, ‘I’m bringing my daughter, I’m bringing my dad!’ There were two distinct groups that came to the shows: the Halestorm fans bringing their dads and the Skid Row diehards. Each night I would get such beautiful compliments from all kinds of people, even fans that had been seeing Skid Row since 1987.” 

Do any particular compliments spring to mind? 

“Well, Jon Bon Jovi knows who I am, apparently. He was doing a radio interview, and I was asked to submit a question. My name comes up, and Jon immediately goes, ‘Oh, Lzzy Hale, she’s incredible – she really needs to join Skid Row.’ I knew all his songs growing up – it was such a surreal moment for me.” 

There’s no love lost between Skid Row and their original singer, Sebastian Bach. Have you heard anything from him? 

“I did hear some feedback through a friend. Personally, I have no problem with Sebastian – I love him, y’know? It’s none of my business what went down with the band. But I was still nervous to hear what he thought of me. Apparently he was saying things to the effect of ‘I can’t stand those guys, but she’s great, she’s really cool.’ Isn’t that sweet?” 

Did the experience change you at all? 

“It’s been kind of life-changing for me. I’ve been in Halestorm since I was 13, then all of a sudden, I’m 40, but inside I’m still this 13-year-old girl living on a 20-acre farm with my parents. So, when everybody started noticing me, noticing my consistency, my passion, my commitment, it got a little scary. 

For most of my 30s, I was going through quite a bit of imposter syndrome. It was like, ‘Is that really me?’ When I turned 40, it was like something shifted. I’ve been giving myself a lot more grace and permission to be flawed, and I’m learning to accept what people think of me. I’m trying to believe that, for whatever reason, there is something inside of me that is beautiful that only I’m able to share. 

“Skid Row was the final push that I needed to knock some major insecurities. I got a multigenerational view of what I can bring to the table. It was also the first time I have performed without hiding behind an instrument, purely riding on my voice. When I got home after the shows, I walked back through my front door a totally different person. I’m forever grateful to those boys for asking me to tag along. I can’t wait to do it again.” 

So you’d be up for a second round? 

“We left it like, ‘I can’t marry you, but we can totally have an affair sometime.’ If the guys send up the bat signal in a time of crisis, I’ll be there.” 

Are you keeping yourself on top of the Skid Row stuff just in case? 

“Snake’s guitar tech is actually on tour with us right now – we’ve stolen him for now. When we went out to karaoke, he signed me up for all these Skid Row songs. We sent videos to the guys like, ‘Look, I still know the lyrics!!’”

Full-time freelancer, part-time music festival gremlin, Emily first cut her journalistic teeth when she co-founded Bittersweet Press in 2019. After asserting herself as a home-grown, emo-loving, nu-metal apologist, Clash Magazine would eventually invite Emily to join their Editorial team in 2022. In the following year, she would pen her first piece for Metal Hammer – unfortunately for the team, Emily has since become a regular fixture. When she’s not blasting metal for Hammer, she also scribbles for Rock Sound, Why Now and Guitar and more.

“At my level Spotify would be like a turkey voting for Christmas”: Billy Sherwood, Big Big Train,and other artists who pay it forward helped John Holden return to prog after he’d abandoned his ambitions

“At my level Spotify would be like a turkey voting for Christmas”: Billy Sherwood, Big Big Train,and other artists who pay it forward helped John Holden return to prog after he’d abandoned his ambitions

John Holden
(Image credit: Press)

Assassins, superstitions and the work of Rudyard Kipling have all informed the lyrics on John Holden’s latest album Proximity & Chance, and his guestlist includes John Hackett, Sally Minnear and others.. The British songwriter tells Prog about working with Billy Sherwood, recreating orchestras on a budget and why he keeps a cautious distance from most streaming platforms.


Books, movies and popular song have always insisted it’s true: if you want something enough, it will happen for you. Then again, to suggest it’s all down to dedication and determination isn’t always helpful – doesn’t it inadvertently, insultingly suggest that musicians who are still struggling just aren’t trying hard enough?

Creatives needing inspiration to keep plugging away could take heart from Cheshire-based songwriter John Holden, who launched his career in earnest well into middle age, managed to recruit some major prog names to play alongside him, and has now released his fifth album in six years. All without being able to hold a tune himself on the vocal front: “My voice would strip paint,” he insists. “Honestly awful!”

His new LP Proximity & Chance might also be his best yet, wrapping intriguing topical themes and philosophical food for thought within stirring symphonic prog sounds and compelling songcraft. Not bad for a Yes fan who firmly parked his own musical ambition the best part of 40 years ago.

“I was in a few bands in my early 20s that went into the studio to record a few things in the early 80s,” he says. “But then things like getting married and jobs and mortgages came along and the whole of the musical side just disappeared.”

He eventually ended up running his own recruitment business, only for his dormant passion to belatedly awake. “Around the turn of the millennium I realised I missed playing music. So I bought myself some nice instruments – which I’d never been able to afford when I started – and I began messing around again.”

He used a digital audio workstation (DAW) to record his own material; and when his wife’s yoga teacher needed some music to accompany classes, he offered his services. It turned out she was also a singer, and lent her vocals to Holden’s slowly-evolving songs.

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As a fan of Big Big Train, he sent their engineer Rob Aubrey some tracks. “He ripped them to pieces!” says Holden with a grin. “And rightly so.” However, Aubrey’s constructive criticism led Holden to focus on upping his game production-wise, and soon he was putting together what would become his debut album, 2018’s Capture Light.

But while doing so, he chanced his arm again, this time by reaching out to his teenage heroes’ latter-day bassist, Billy Sherwood. “I knew he did production work and I wanted to hear what my stuff would sound like professionally mixed and mastered. So I sent him some tracks. He said he really liked them, but I couldn’t afford him! He said, ‘Can’t you get your label to pay?’ I said, ‘What label?’

“He apologised and said he’d thought my demo was done in a professional studio. That was encouraging! Then he said since I didn’t have much money, he’d do the whole thing for the same rate he usually charges per minute. Really kind of him.

John Holden

(Image credit: John Holden)

“So he worked on the tracks and came back saying, ‘I hope you don’t mind – I thought the guitar solo could be improved, so I’ve done one for you. I’ve added some bass as well.’ Wow!”

So it came to pass that Sherwood contributed to Capture Light, and has also played on several albums since. Holden found the collaboration “opened doors” to talent such as Oliver Wakeman, who appears on the current album, alongside Luke Machin (The Tangent, Karnataka) on guitar, Tiger Moth Tales singer Peter Jones and Sally Minnear on vocals, plus Silent Skies’ Vikram Shankar on piano, and John Hackett on flute.

Not a bad line-up – but on Proximity & Chance, it’s Holden’s vision that remains front and centre on a record whose themes concern the way humanity blindly puts its faith in superstition. People may use phrases like “touch wood” or avoid labelling the 13th floor of buildings, while failing to appreciate the role that fortuitous accidents of geography have played. Holden speaks of being inspired by Professor Brian Cox’s documentaries on how our planet offered the right conditions to nurture human life

Another theme is hubris, as addressed on the tapestry of pastoral folk, hard rock riffs and spiritual lament heard on The Man Who Would Be King (based on the Kipling stories), and Agents, which revisits the Russian agent poisonings in Salisbury a few years ago (‘If you run we will find you… this tourist trap is set’).

Proximity & Chance Trailer – YouTube Proximity & Chance Trailer - YouTube

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Musically he’s also been building a fuller sonic experience, creating a captivating soundscape for the theatrical Burnt Cork And Limelight, wherein piano, timpani and orchestral arrangements create something that could have come from The Phantom Of The Opera, while putting the listener into the head of the assassin who targeted Victorian actor William Terriss.

“I can’t hire a 60-piece orchestra,” Holden explains, “so I have to simulate those sounds. I listen to a lot of music that uses sample libraries and string pad effects to do that – to my ear, it sounds a bit fake. So I’ll record, say, eight separate violins, then mix them together. To me it makes for a truer sound. Trouble is, it takes ages!”

Still not a full-time artist, Holden wakes at 5am to begin work on his music before starting his day job. And despite being a multi-instrumentalist, he is also only too happy to invite outside input. “I know my limitations. If the song needs a really virtuoso piece of playing on guitar, or keyboard, I’ll just get in touch with Dave Bainbridge or Luke Machin; or if I want some amazing keyboards on there I’ll ask Vikram Shankar.

“For vocals, if I can use Pete Jones or Joe Payne or one of these people, it elevates it straight away. I’ll talk them through what I’m after, but I’ll also say, ‘Send me what you would do with it.’ And sometimes I’ll rearrange the whole piece to incorporate that.”

John Holden

(Image credit: Press)

Maybe that’s one of the factors helping Holden’s go from strength to strength. Yet you may find your options to hear it limited, compared to the on-tap basis that of other artists’ music. He hasn’t played live, because, he explains, “to recreate my music you’d probably need more people onstage than would be in the audience. I’m not in this to make money – but I’m also not in it to lose money.”

For similar reasons, if you search his name on Spotify, you’ll draw a blank. “I refuse to put my stuff up for streaming,” he says. “It might do OK for you if you’re Taylor Swift, but at my level it’s like a turkey voting for Christmas.”

For the price of a couple of drinks, though, Proximity & Chance is a VFM investment, and Holden deserves all the remuneration his listeners can offer him, given the inspiring way he built a body of work from nothing. “I’m saying, ‘Look, if I can do it, anyone can do it,’” he says. And who would have the heart to deny him?

Johnny is a regular contributor to Prog and Classic Rock magazines, both online and in print. Johnny is a highly experienced and versatile music writer whose tastes range from prog and hard rock to R’n’B, funk, folk and blues. He has written about music professionally for 30 years, surviving the Britpop wars at the NME in the 90s (under the hard-to-shake teenage nickname Johnny Cigarettes) before branching out to newspapers such as The Guardian and The Independent and magazines such as Uncut, Record Collector and, of course, Prog and Classic Rock

“I become a Colossus of Maroussi, I can do anything!”: Michael Stipe on the period when R.E.M. became a stadium band and he embraced his inner showman

R.E.M. live at Milton Keynes Bowl in 1995
(Image credit: Mick Hutson/Redferns)

By 1995, R.E.M. hadn’t toured in six years but you could hardly say the decision to take themselves off the road had caused a downturn in fortunes for the Athens, Georgia quartet. Quite the opposite: during that period, they hunkered down in the studio and released a pair of early 90s classics in 1991’s Out Of Time and quickfire follow-up Automatic For The People, which came out the following year. Both sold in the multi-multi-millions and made R.E.M., already a sizeable, arena-playing band, absolutely huge. Monstrous, in fact.

They were ready to get back out there and their 1994 record Monster was written with big stages and bigger crowds in mind: after the low-key, acoustic-heavy sounds that made up much of Automatic For The People, this was loud, crunching rock music built for mass projection. The tour, which hit the road 30 years ago this week when the band kicked off a near year-long trek with shows in Australia, would also require an about-turn from frontman Michael Stipe, who cut an introspective albeit captivating figure for some of the songs across those two records (OK, maybe he wasn’t so introspective on Shiny Happy People). He was certainly in the mood to embrace his inner flamboyant showman, and a few years ago he told this writer about what it entailed to get into the zone for the band’s biggest shows yet.

“I was so focussed on that tour,” he said. “Performing and being frontman required an immense amount of psychic energy, moreso than being a drummer. I say that with all the love in my hear for every drummer who’s ever sat behind a drumkit but being the frontman requires a different level of psychic energy to carry the crowd, to life them, to pull them up and out when they were not completely present, to really create the mood and the atmosphere that’s required for a successful live performance.”

Going onstage each night on a tour that took in arenas and then stadiums across the globe was an experience that Stipe described as “nerve-wracking” but he said at every show, by the third song he’d be firing on all cylinders.

“It’s always the third song. That’s when the adrenaline takes over and I become a Colossus of Maroussi,” he explained, referring to the titular character in Henry Miller’s 1939 novel. “I can do anything. Henry Miller is gonna write a book about me! It’s an absurd journey through adrenaline. Something that all of us will experience at least once in our lives, I experienced as part of my job for the best part of 32 years.”

After a batch of cancelled shows so that drummer Bill Berry could recuperate after suffering a brain aneurysm onstage, the tour resumed in April 1995 and the band arrived in the UK for a run of massive outdoor shows in good nick. Stipe had personally overseen the support slots, which included Blur, The Cranberries (“god bless Dolores and her spirit,” Stipe said) and Sleeper. “We had great opening acts,” he marvels. “I can say that I was always a fan of Blur and so being able to see them perform was a great joy.”

Radiohead also opened up for the Losing My Religion stars, a meeting that led to the new groups becoming well-acquainted and frontmen Stipe and Thom Yorke forging a lifelong friendship. “I went and presented myself to Thom,” Stipe recalled of the first time they spoke. “And then he presented me to the rest of the group. I think we were sunbathing together outside of the dressing rooms. It was a beautiful summer day.”

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Selecting such a stellar support line-up, Stipe explained, was a good way of gee’ing himself ahead of his own performance. “I just watched from the side of the stage three astonishing acts do what they do and raise the bar,” he stated. “Not being naturally competitive is a good thing in these kind of situations because if you’re R.E.M., you have the ability to handpick the opening acts and so you choose bands you want to watch on the stage, but then they’re raising the bar with every performance so I’m sure that’s what was going through my head.”

“Those giant outdoor things,” he continued, “they’re really fun but it takes a different kind of psychic energy to pull the audience towards you through the entire course of a set. You have to really reach the back rows, you have to be at the back of the field, near the toilets, near the T-shirt stands, engaging those people as much as those right up front.”

By that point, Stipe said, he had become the frontman who could do that. “I had become this creature who could do that thing and do it really well. It was terrifying because since 1989, the size of the show had grown immensely.”

In terms of adapting to the now-gigantic setting, the band took inspiration from their old pals U2, Stipe said. “It was presenting it in a way that was pulling from the work they did with Achtung Baby and Zooropa,” he said, “and pulling from glam-rock and the historically British idea of music as theatre and presenting something in a very different way than R.E.M. had before. It was a new experience for us and something I was having a great deal of fun with.”

It was a role that Stipe would successfully inhabit for the rest of R.E.M.’s career. As you can see from their Glastonbury performance below, he was born to be a frontman doing his thing in front of the masses.

R.E.M. – Live from Glastonbury Festival, 1999 (Complete BBC Broadcast) #AtHome – YouTube R.E.M. - Live from Glastonbury Festival, 1999 (Complete BBC Broadcast) #AtHome - YouTube

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Niall Doherty is a writer and editor whose work can be found in Classic Rock, The Guardian, Music Week, FourFourTwo, on Apple Music and more. Formerly the Deputy Editor of Q magazine, he co-runs the music Substack letter The New Cue with fellow former Q colleagues Ted Kessler and Chris Catchpole. He is also Reviews Editor at Record Collector. Over the years, he’s interviewed some of the world’s biggest stars, including Elton John, Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys, Muse, Pearl Jam, Radiohead, Depeche Mode, Robert Plant and more. Radiohead was only for eight minutes but he still counts it.

COMBUST To Release Belly Of The Beast Album In March; “Our Own Breed” Single Streaming

COMBUST To Release Belly Of The Beast Album In March;

Back in fall 2023, Combust announced their signing to Triple B Records with a two song promo that hit incredibly hard. Now the New York hardcore band announce their new album, Belly Of The Beast, due out March 7.

Marking the band’s second album and fourth release, Belly Of The Beast is 100% pure hardcore. Recorded with Zach Miller at Landmine Studios, the twelve tracks bounce through unique grooves, menacing riffs, and a tough vocal delivery. The guest heavy record showcases community within the hardcore scene and beyond, with features from members of Terror, Mindforce, Crown Of Thornz, Dmize, Imposter, and rapper Rome Streetz.

Lead single “Our Own Breed,” out now, finds Combust at their best, combining shout-along lyrics, mosh parts, and a few rhythmic twists and turns that will keep you captivated. Vocalist Andrew Vacante’s New York style is contrasted by sinister guest vocals from Imposter’s Rory O’Neill, adding a different dimension to the track.

The song addresses the recent surge of opportunists entering the hardcore scene, as Vacante expands: “Older people who were never a part of this culture or scene try to come in and complain or use it to their benefit just for profit or a resurgence in their washed up pathetic past. Weird social media figures try to backpack off our shit just so they can boost their views and they hop in and hop out and use bands for numbers and clicks. This song is for the ones who reject them.”

You can stream “Our Own Breed” here. Listen below. Pre-order Belly Of The Beast on vinyl through Triple B Records here.

Belly Of The Beast tracklisting:

“Belly Of The Beast”
“Everyone’s Enemy”
“Swallowing Swords” feat. Mindforce
“N.Y.H.C.” feat. Danny Diablo
“Truth Hurts”
“Fear In The Streets”
“Our Own Breed” feat. Rory O’Neill
“Tiger Style II” feat. Ryan Griffith and Rome Streetz
“Crossed Off” feat. Chiqui Rodriguez
“Paid With Pain” feat. Terror
“Distorted Dreams”
“Atlas”

“Our Own Breed”:

Combust is:

Andrew Vacante (Vocals)
Peter Martingano (Guitar)
Alex Basovskiy (Guitar)
Dave Sarnes (Drums)
Eric Hoyt (Bass)

(Photo – Kevin O Bryant)


BRAINSTORM Launch Lyric Video For New Single “Beyond Enemy Lines”

BRAINSTORM Launch Lyric Video For New Single

Brainstorm, the acclaimed Southern German metal band, proudly present the lyric video for their new single, “Beyond Enemy Lines”, from their upcoming album, Plague Of Rats, set to launch on February 28 via RPM.

Continuing the momentum from their successful first single, “Garuda (Eater Of Snakes)”, Brainstorm introduce “Beyond Enemy Lines”. This track is sure to captivate not only the band’s fans but also lovers of high-octane metal music. Featuring intricate guitar tapping, powerful drumming, and majestic orchestration, the song perfectly encapsulates what a leading track in a heavy/power metal album should offer. Frontman Andy B. Franck brings a unique intensity to the song, with lyrics that explore themes of war on a deeply personal level.

“‘Beyond Enemy Lines’ combines many of our trademarks with recent, modern influences. The track has incredible power: it’s fast, goes straight into your neck and also deals with it a lyrical topic that concerns us all very much. Overcoming mental boundaries and trusting strangers or giving them a chance has become very difficult. Escaping into hatred and agitation is easier and promotes violence and wars. This is also a topic for Brainstorm that we would like to take up in order to draw attention. Of course, only a song that has power goes with it. We are very proud of that because this track has exactly that power!,” says Brainstorm.

Watch the lyric video:

In exciting collaboration news, Plague Of Rats features two notable guest artists. Alex Krull of Atrocity and Leaves’ Eyes lends his formidable growls to the track “From Hell”, while Leaves’ Eyes lead vocalist Elina Siirala adds her ethereal vocals to “Your Soul That Lingers In Me”.

Plague Of Rats can be pre-ordered in your preferred physical format [earbook, digipak-cd, coloured vinyl, ticket bundle], pre-saved on your favourite digital service provider (DSP) or pre-ordered digitally (incl. instant-grat tracks “Beyond Enemy Lines” and “Garuda (Eater Of Snakes)”). Pre-order/pre-save here.

Plague Of Rats tracklisting:

“Beyond Enemy Lines”
“Garuda (Eater Of Snakes)”
“False Memories”
“The Shepherd Girl (Gitavoginda)”
“Your Soul That Lingers In Me” [feat. Elina Siirala]
“Masquerade Conspiracy”
“From Hell” [feat. Alex Krull]
“The Dark Of Night”
“Crawling”
“Celebrate Youth” [Rick Springfield cover; excl. digipak/earbook bonus track]
“Curtains Fall”

“Garuda (Eater Of Snakes)” video:

Once caught by “Garuda (Eater Of Snakes)”, which might probably find its way to the band’s future set list, European metalheads should make sure to attend Brainstorm’s 8-date release tour alongside Arion and Stranger Vision, kicking off on the night before the official Plague Of Rats release date in Aschaffenburg, Germany.

Excl. CD+ticket bundles here, regular tickets here.

Though Brainstorm have a long history – much like the ancient Indus civilization, the main force behind Plague Of Rats – they’re still in tune with the times. Their latest opus combines signature elements with a fresh, modern edge that’s clearly left its mark on the album. Plus, the band’s ‘attack mode’ approach shines through with a lineup of powerful tracks – no slow songs, no ballads, just pure, high-energy metal. Created alongside their trusted team – Sebastian “Seeb” Levermann for mixing and mastering at Greenman Studios, Gyula Havancsák on artwork, and Alex Kühr on photography – this album delivers ten epic new tracks that will transport fans to the captivating world of India and beyond.

(Photo – Reigning Phoenix Music)