Game Over have amicably parted ways with vocalist, bassist and founding member Renato ‘Reno’ Chiccoli.
After more than 15 years of live shenanigans all over the world (Europe, North America, Japan and even China), not to mention five rabid and acclaimed full-length albums, Reno decided to pursue other musical endeavors. Game Over wish him nothing but the best for both his personal and artistic life.
Farewell Reno, enter Leonardo! The new frontman & bassist of the Italian thrash maniacs is the hyperactive Leonardo Molinari. The new kid on the block has already made his live debut and will receive the ultimate baptism of fire on June 17, when Game Over will directly support Megadeth in Milan.
The band is currently working on the follow-up to the latest album “Hellframes” and has been confirmed for the Metal For Emergency Festival (Bergamo, August 3) and Death Over Rome Fest alongside Necrophobic and Suicidal Angels (Rome, October 20).
By the end of this month, on June 28, 2024, the Canadian cult metal trio ANVIL will release its brandnew, 20th studio album, ‘One And Only’, via AFM Records.“Just when you thought Anvil wasn’t heavy anymore,”sayscharismatic frontman, Steve ‘Lips’ Kudlow, and following previously-released, first album appetizers “Feed Your Fantasy” and “Truth Is Dying”, ANVIL are now presenting their latest, new single “World Of Fools”!
When it comes to the most influential bands in the history of heavy metal, authorities on the subject regularly vote ANVIL among the top positions. The iconic group from Toronto, Canada, with its two masterminds, Lips and Robb Reiner, and bassist Chris Robertson, not only looks back at an impressive career with countless highlights – as well as a number of well-documented difficulties – but has also had a lasting influence on lots of internationally renowned musicians, from Metallica to Slayer and beyond.
Their forthcoming album, aptly entitled ‘One And Only’, proves that ANVIL are and will always be one of a kind and are continuing to shape the contemporary metal scene just as impressively as they did at the beginning of their career. How they achieve this? Thanks to their straightforward metal fuelled by cutting riffs and catchy hooks, which the musicians continue to celebrate with admirable effortlessness and great passion. “We’re more like our old selves than we’ve been in years,” comments Lips on the new album, adding: “We’ve dropped all our more modern aspects, particularly the 90s version of Anvil. No sexual topics and no thrash speed songs like they featured on past albums.”
‘One And Only’ sees the band provide first-rate ANVIL entertainment: While Guitarist/vocalist Lips is considered to be one of the most creative and interesting storytellers of the metal genre, Chris Robertson and Robb Reiner keep the up the pace with their usual confidence, providing the perfect rhythm section for Lips. Although they have experienced the tough and frequently merciless side of the music industry on a number of occasions, ANVIL never lost their idealism, motivation and energy, which is immediately evident on ‘One And Only’.
In support of their upcoming record release, ANVIL will be touring the USA with festival dates in Europe such as Hellfest, Vara in Rock Sweden or Metal Hammer Paradise in Germany.
Like its four predecessors, ‘One And Only’ was produced by Martin ‘Mattes’ Pfeiffer (U.D.O., among others) and Jörg Uken at his Soundlodge studio. As far as Lips is concerned, Pfeiffer and Uken are “… our one and only choice. As usual, Mattes and Jörg did a great job in choosing our best playing and making sure it has top notch sound. Great guys who understand the band and know what suits us best.”
‘One And Only’ track listing: 01 – One And Only 02 – Feed Your Fantasy 03 – Fight For Your Rights 04 – Heartbroken 05 – Gold And Diamonds 06 – Dead Man Shoes 07 – Truth Is Dying 08 – Rocking The World 09 – Run Away 10 – World Of Fools 11 – Condemned Liberty 12 – Blind Rage
ANVIL are: Steve ‘Lips’ Kudlow (Vocals/Guitar) Robb Reiner (Drums) Chris Robertson (Bass/Vocals)
The Damned announces upcoming live album ‘AD 2022 – Live In Manchester’ and launch the first single ‘New Rose’ is out now, released through earMUSIC.
In October 2020, over 40 years after the founding members parted ways, The Damned announced a series of reunion shows with the original line-up. However, due to the pandemic, they were forced to postpone the shows until 2022. November 3rd, 2022, the band performed at the fully packed O2 Apollo in Manchester, UK, delivering an energetic 21-song set drawn from the first two albums, the 1977’s ‘Damned Damned Damned’ and ‘Music for Pleasure’, the only albums to feature the four founding members.
This legendary reunion show is now becoming available for the very first time worldwide on September 13th, 2024. ‘AD 2022 – Live In Manchester’ will be made available digitally for download and streaming, in all traditional stores on 180g Black Double Vinyl, packed in a premium-quality gatefold jacket, as well as on a limited Double-CD+DVD Deluxe Edition, featuring the video of the full Manchester show on DVD and the reunion show in Birmingham as exclusive audio bonus on CD 2.
Already today sees the release of the live track taken from the intoxicating performance at the O2 Apollo in Manchester: ‘New Rose’ will be instantly available as digital download and stream and when pre-ordering the album ‘AD 2022 – Live In Manchester’. The single release is being accompanied by the launch of the music video on the earMUSIC YouTube channel.
Influential Los Angeles rock band 96 BITTER BEINGS has released their new record, Return To Hellview, out now! The collection of fan-favorite, re-recorded CKY tracks spanning founding guitarist, vocalist and primary songwriter Deron Miller’s time with the band is available digitally now from Nuclear Blast Records.
Miller recently commented on the record: “Revisiting these songs was a blast. I hadn’t heard the original versions in so long but I was able to get a lot of the re-recordings done just from memory. When the recording process got down to covering specific details of all the tracks, that’s when I went back and listened to the original versions. I love all the songs but there’s always been issues that bothered me about the originals. A lot of my problems with them were arbitrary and not that important…things that I just wanted to fix that most listeners wouldn’t even notice. But there were some things I wanted to add to these songs and some things I wanted to take out. The goal was to challenge myself to redo these classic tracks in a way that they could be heard as remixes instead of re-recordings. I think we succeeded. I hope a lot of fans will hear this album as remixes of the originals. Not many bands have access to the original masters that are owned by record companies and therefore don’t have the option to remix anything. We’re excited to see the response.”
With the record release, 96 BITTER BEINGS has unveiled a new video for the re-recorded single, ‘Flesh Into Gear’.
Miller adds the track: “‘Flesh Into Gear’ was a sizeable hit for me and because of that I tended to always put it under a microscope. I was never fully happy with the original’s mix. I’m finally 100% happy with it. This whole process is the result of a nutty perfectionist trying to chase that feeling of total satisfaction. I achieved it. Basically, I’m saying I won’t be doing this again 20 years from now.”
Deron Miller gives his life to the riff. Unrestrained by industry expectations and genre limitations, the boundlessly prolific guitarist and voice behind multiple beloved projects is best known as the founder, frontman, and songwriter in CKY. His authentic and effortlessly hooky heavy rock obsession returns with 96 BITTER BEINGS. Reinvigorated and ready to rumble all over again, Miller roars back with the same reverence for riffage that made underground hits out of CKY anthems like “Flesh Into Gear,” “Escape from Hellview,” and “Disengage the Simulator” from 1998 till 2011.
The familiar warmth, feel, groove, and unapologetic honesty which drove the song “96 Quite Bitter Beings” to 54 million streams (on Spotify alone) permeates the pair of albums unleashed by 96BB.
A successful crowdfunding campaign saw Miller, guitarist Kenneth Hunter, bassist Shaun Luera and Shaun’s brother, drummer Tim, conjure up 2018’s “Camp Pain” in limited release. North American touring followed, wrapping up shortly before the COVID-19 shutdowns.
“After CKY and a short break, I decided to continue, without changing the sound,” Miller explains. “Because that’s what I do. It’s what I love to do and what people say I do well. All of the guys who got in the band with me are great musicians. And each of them is hungry. They have priorities and ambitions about being in a rock band, no matter the grim state of pop music out there. If we can bring rock and metal back to the mainstream, in some way, that’s the dream.”
In 2022, 96 BITTER BEINGS joined Nuclear Blast Records and shortly after released their critically revered album, Synergy Restored, which features the standout tracks ‘Vaudeville’s Revenge,’ ‘Wish Me Dead,’ ‘Fire Skyline’ and ‘Bloodrock Mania.’
Hard rock legends AC/DC are currently touring Germany and Europe with their Power UP Tour. At their latest stop in Munich, they delivered a captivating show. The setlist and more impressions of the concert can be found here.
Last Wednesday, hard rock legends AC/DC thrilled their fans at the Munich Olympic Stadium. The opening act was The Pretty Reckless, who perfectly set the mood. AC/DC performed their greatest hits, including “Back in Black”, “Hells Bells”, and many others. The complete setlist can be found below. If you couldn’t make it to Munich, or if your stop is coming up and you want to know what to expect, here are some impressions from the concert:
AC/DC Setlist in Munich, June 12, 2024:
The setlist was as electrifying as ever and lived up to the name AC/DC. In addition to immortal classics such as “Back in Black”, “Hells Bells”, “Highway to Hell” and “T.N.T.”, the band also played songs from their 2020 album “Power Up“. Here is the complete list of songs played:
If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)
Back in Black
Demon Fire
Shot Down in Flames
Thunderstruck
Have a Drink on Me
Hells Bells
Shot in the Dark
Stiff Upper Lip
Shoot to Thrill
Sin City
Rock ‘n’ Roll Train
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
High Voltage
Riff Raff
You Shook Me All Night Long
Highway to Hell
Whole Lotta Rosie
Let There Be Rock (with Angus guitar solo) Encore:
T.N.T.
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You
*The setlist may vary from concert to concert.
Upcoming Tour Dates
After 22 tracks, including two encores, AC/DC bid farewell to Munich. The next stop is Dresden on June 16 and 19. Additional tour dates are:
June 2024 – Vienna, AT: Ernst Happel Stadium
June 2024 – Zurich, CH: Letzigrund Stadium
July 2024 – Hockenheim, DE: Hockenheimring
July 2024 – Stuttgart, DE: Cannstatter Wasen
July 2024 – Nuremberg, DE: Zeppelinfeld
July 2024 – Hanover, DE: Messe
50 Years of AC/DC
This year, AC/DC are celebrating their 50th anniversary. For this occasion, they have reissued their albums on golden anniversary vinyl. From “Back in Black” to “Who Made Who” everything is included that will make the heart of hard rock and vinyl collectors beat faster. Those who want to learn more about the band’s history should also read our article “50 Years AC/DC – 50 Years in the Fast Lane”.
Southhampton metalcore juggernaut Our Hollow, Our Home have unveiled a brand new single / video ‘Funeral Verse’, their third offering since their return with a brand new line-up.
The track features the band’s signature blend of heavy riffs, melodic hooks, and emotionally charged lyrics. Known for their energetic performances and powerful sound, Our Hollow, Our Home continue to captivate fans with this new release, which promises to be a highlight in their discography. ‘Funeral Verse’ is now available on all major streaming platforms, offering a fresh taste of what’s to come from the band.
Vocalist Gaz King comments: “‘Funeral Verse’ is an ode to the battle of mental health and the guilt that comes with knowing you’ll be hurting those around you with your departure. The lyrics portray a message to those closest to us: that against the odds and despite the constant struggle in one’s own mind, we shall fight against our demons and remain strong for our loved ones, even when we may not be able to be strong for ourselves. “I’m holding on for you” in the chorus sums this up in a single phrase. Musically, we wanted to reflect the pace at which these thoughts and emotions come to you while expressing both sadness, anger, and pain. “Hollow” has always tried to keep our lyrics raw and relatable. We know that this song will relate to many people, and we hope that those suffering will find some comfort and seek help wherever and whenever needed.”
Our Hollow Our Home just announced brand new tour dates, in support of Ghøstkid, throughout Europe and the UK in the Fall of 2024. A full list of confirmed dates can be found below.
dates: 27.09.24 DE Hannover @ Musikzentrum 28.09.24 DE Berlin @ Hole 44 29.09.24 DE Leipzig @ Felsenkeller 30.09.24 CZ Prague @ Rock Cafe 02.10.24 PL Warsaw @ Proxima 03.10.24 LV Riga @ Melna Piektdiena 04.10.24 EE Tallin @ Paavli Kultuurivabrik 05.10.24 FI Jyväskylä @ Lutakko 06.10.24 FI Helsinki @ Tavastia 08.10.24 SE Stockholm @ Kollektivet Livet 09.10.24 DK Copenhagen @ Pumpehuset 10.10.24 DE Hamburg @ Logo 11.10.24 DE Karlsruhe @ Substage 12.10.24 DE Nürnberg @ Z-Bau 13.10.24 HU Budapest @ Analog Music Hall 15.10.24 AT Wien @ Szene 16.10.24 DE München @ Strom 17.10.24 CH Aarau @ Kiff 19.10.24 UK Manchester @ Club Academy 20.10.24 UK London @ The Garage 21.10.24 FR Paris @ Glazart 23.10.24 DE Frankfurt @ Batschkapp 24.10.24 NL Utrecht @ Tivoli 25.10.24 LU Esch-sur-Alzette @ Kulturfabrik 26.10.24 DE Essen @ Rocken Hilft
The level of relatability, coupled with their relentless touring with the likes of A Day To Remember, Asking Alexandria and Blessthefall and high profile slots at festivals like Graspop, Nova Rock, Summerblast and Jera On Air, has seen the band command an ever growing army of highly dedicated followers; they have over 115,000 monthlies and 50M streams on Spotify, have been viewed over 9 million times on Youtube and have over 29,000 Instagram followers and 107,000 on Facebook and 2017’s debut album Hartsick reached the top spot of the Itunes chart for rock and metal in the UK, as well as placing in the top ten in the USA, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Italy and Germany.
They were also boosted by their hugely popular cover of Ed Sheeran’s ‘Shape of You’ in 2017, which was picked up by BBC Radio One’s Greg James and subsequently topped the iTunes UK rock and metal chart, and racked up over 300,000 plays on YouTube on its first week of release.
For a band who have handled their own operations internally without the help of major label or industry backing till today, that is a mightily impressive number, and testament to the devotion Our Hollow, Our Home have to their craft. But it’s more than just the numbers that are impressive, it’s the way in which those people have connected with the band. Be it their lyrical content, their staunchly DIY approach, their high energy live shows or their down to earth attitude, Our Hollow, Our Home have connected with their audience in a way that cannot be forced or faked.
Our Hollow, Our Home are: Gaz | vocals Tobias | guitar/vocals James | guitar Matt | bass Kieran | drums
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST – Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements!
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
