Neil Turbin reporting for Canada’s The Metal Voice in Los Angeles at Book Soup (July13 2023) filmed the fan Q and A/ book signing of Metal Blade RecordsBrian Slagel who launched his new book ‘Swing of the Blade’.
Also at the Q and A was Armored Saint’s John Bush, Betsy Bitch and host Don Jamieson.
Swing of the Blade follows Brian Slagel’s critically acclaimed 2017 book, For the Sake of Heaviness, which delivered a compelling inside look at how a metal-obsessed California teen built Metal Blade Records into the preeminent international home of heavy music. Rabid readers demanded more anecdotes, more bands, and more of Slagel’s musical wisdom. With Swing of the Blade, he delivers. Featuring a foreword by Slayer’s Kerry King, the new book is part memoir, part music-business primer, and all metal – delving deep into scenes and bands that fans worldwide obsess about. Slagel serves up more of his favorite memories about iconic musicians and events, and delves into even greater detail about his long and ongoing relationships with Metallica, Armored Saint, King Diamond and other heavyweights. Swing of the Blade is told in Slagel’s humble but authoritative voice. His view for the last 40 years–from the studio, side-stage and boardroom–offers an unprecedented look into the music, business, and passion that has made both Slagel and Metal Blade champions of discovering and nurturing the best heavy music on the planet. (Bmg Books)
Mexican death grind band BRUJERIA put the world of cartels and ritualistic murder on wax with a brutal power equivalent to when Compton arrived in pop culture via NWA. On September 15th, the band will unleash their fifth full-length album Esto Es Brujeria onto the world via Nuclear Blast Records.
Today, the band releases the first single from the album entitled, ‘Mochado’. Check out the video visualizer for the first taste of the album.
BRUJERIA’s Juan Brujo comments, “Para que sientan y sepan el poder Mexicano con raíces antiguas hasta las redes sociales modernas, que se transmite con canciones brutales y rabiosas! ESTO ES BRUJERIA.”
English translation: “Feel and know the Mexican power with ancient roots all the way to the modern world of social media, filled with brutal and rabid songs! ESTO ES BRUJERIA”
Esto Es Brujería – Tracklisting: 01. Esto Es Brujeria 02. El Patrón Del Reventón 03. Estado Profundo 04. Bruja Encabronada 05. G-A-K 06. Tu Vida Loca 07. Mexorcista 08. Bestia De La Muerte 09. Políticamente Correctos 10. Mochado 11. Perdido En El Espacio 12. Odio Que Amo 13. Testamento 3.0 14. Covid-666 15. Lord Nazi Ruso 16. Cocaína
Esto Es Brujeria was recorded worldwide at the following studios: Dog Run Studio in Riverside, CA; Total Annihilation Studios in East Los Angeles, CA; Robanna’s in Birmingham, UK; and Audiocustom in Santiago, Chile. Production of the record was handled by the band while engineering was a joint effort between Eddie Casillas, Eddie Rivas, and Miguel Seco. The mixing and mastering of the album was completed by Seba Puente who was also a part of the engineering team. The album artwork was created by Gary Ronaldson. Esto Es Brujeria saw the return of their metal mascot Coco Loco who is emblazoned on the ferocious cover.
14.07. SE Gavle – Gefle Metal Fest 16.07. FI Helsinki – On The Rocks 17.07. EE Tallinn – Sveta 18.07. LV Riga – Melna Piektdiena 19.07. LT Kaunas – Lemmy Club 20.07. PL Warsaw – Hydrogazadka 21.07. SK Kosice – Colosseum 22.07. HU Budapest – Dürer Kert 23.07. AT Vienna – Viper Room 24.07. RS Novi Sad – SKCNS Fabrika 25.07. SI Tolmin – Tolminator Fest 27.07. IT Turin – Ziggy Club 28.07. IT Cagliari – La Cueva 29.07. IT Padova – Curtarock Festival 30.07. HR Pula – Kotac Club
On his upcoming album ‘Blues Deluxe Vol. 2,’ superstar JOE BONAMASSA is returning to his roots and taking stock of how far he and the genre have come, giving new life to the classic tracks that have that brought him to the Blues. Today, Bonamassa is sharing the latest taste of the album; a rambunctious rendition of “Well, I Done Got Over It,” originally released by Guitar Slim in 1953. ‘Blues Deluxe Vol. 2’ comes twenty years since the release of Bonamassa’s best-selling album ‘Blues Deluxe,’ which celebrated what the US government had declared “the year of the blues.”
Out October 6th via J&R Adventures, the album features two new originals and eight new covers spanning some of the most important names in the blues – from Bobby “Blue” Bland and Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac to Albert King. Also available for pre-order is the Platinum Edition Box Set (limited to 500 units worldwide) which includes the CD and Vinyl versions for both Vol. 2 and Blues Deluxe Remastered along with exclusive items.
“My father introduced me to Guitar Slim a long time ago, back when I was a kid. There was a compilation album called ‘Best of Guitar Slim’ and it was him on the cover and he was cradling one of these Gold Top Les Pauls and I was a fan ever since. He has such a velvety smooth voice, and he had such a way of delivering a song. We did a very British take on this Guitar Slim song, it’s like the Blues Breakers meets Guitar Slim meets Joe Bonamassa, Josh Smith and company,” Bonamassa reflects.
“If you had told me 20 years ago my career would last long enough to see the 20th anniversary of this little record called ‘Blues Deluxe,’ I’m sure I would have laughed,” Bonamassa explains. “Blues Deluxe was my last shot after being dropped by two major record labels and my booking agent. It was then that my manager, Roy Weisman, had his first ‘all in’ moment. We would go back into the studio and record. A record that would hopefully define the direction of whatever future career I might have.”
“Part of my approach to these new recordings was that I wanted to see if I had matured musically over the years, and if I had gotten better as a player,” Bonamassa says. “I’m happy to say that I am a much better singer than I was 20 years ago – though I still don’t really consider myself to be a legit ‘singer,’ I can now carry a tune a little better than I could back then.”
The release of “Well, I Done Got Over It” follows the album’s previous single “Twenty-Four Hour Blues,” a blistering reinterpretation of Bobby “Blue” Bland’s classic track, featured on one of Bonamassa’s favorite albums of all time, Dreamer. The new version features one of Bonamassa’s best-ever vocals and guitar solos.
“The outro guitar solo is incredible,” Smith comments. “It happened live on the floor and has some deep lines you’ve probably never heard Joe play before. The band is absolutely smoking, and Calvin Turner did an incredible String and Horn arrangement. Super proud of this one.”
Featuring Reese Wynans (keys), Calvin Turner (bass), Lamar Carter (drums), Kirk Fletcher (guitar), and Josh Smith (guitar), additional highlights from Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 include “I Want To Shout About It,” originally performed by Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters, “It’s Hard But It’s Fair” by Bobby Parker, and “Is It Safe To Go Home,” a new track written for Joe by Josh Smith.
“I knew I wanted to push him really hard vocally,” Smith adds. “I’d heard him sing things just messing around or when we’d be producing for other artists that I’d never heard him do on record. So the songs were both chosen and written with that in mind. If you listen to the vocals on “Twenty-Four Hour Blues” and “Is It Safe To Go Home,” you’ll hear Joe really going for it.”
Having just earned a remarkable 26th #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart for his sprawling and extensive live concert film and album Tales Of Time, Bonamassa’s upcoming 2023 summer run will include a performance at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO, on August 6th – his first appearance at the venue since the recording of Tales Of Time – as well as his debut appearance at Hollywood Bowl on Wednesday, August 9th. The exclusive, one-night-only concert experience alongside an orchestra will be recorded for his next live concert film. Then, the hardest working bluesman in show business will begin his U.S. Fall Tour on October 23rd at The Cannon Center in Memphis, TN, before crisscrossing the country and capping the year at the guitar-shaped Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL on December 2nd. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit https://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
Cited by Guitar World as “arguably the world’s biggest blues guitarist,” Bonamassa is known for taking risks and venturing into uncharted territory throughout his wide-ranging career. His last recent full-length Time Clocks marked his most raw, rocking studio album yet, with American Songwriter sharing, “Bonamassa pushes into fresh territory while staying within a blues-based framework,” and “there is more than enough proof in this sprawling set that Bonamassa doesn’t intend to rest on his laurels or take his star status in the blues-rock genre for granted.”
Hailed as “a near spiritual experience” by Classic Rock Magazine and featuring songs from his latest #1 studio album, Time Clocks, Bonamassa’s latest live concert release Tales Of Time, captures a stratospheric performance by the blues-rock titan at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, which found his virtuoso guitar style and unique technique and flair elevating the evening to an almost heavenly high. The project was produced by long-time collaborator and producer Kevin Shirley (Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Journey).
“This live show represents our most progressive and largest production to date, focusing on my most ambitious studio album to date,” commented Bonamassa. “My band was a force of nature on this show, and it truly was a special night.” For more information on Tales Of Time, click HERE.
Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 by Joe Bonamassa
1. Twenty-Four Hour Blues (originally performed by Bobby “Blue” Bland) 2. It’s Hard But It’s Fair (originally performed by Bobby Parker) 3. Well, I Done Got Over It (originally performed by Guitar Slim) 4. I Want to Shout About It (originally performed by Ronnie Earle & The Broadcasters) 5. Win-O (originally performed by Pee Wee Crayton) 6. Hope You Realize It (Goodbye Again) *original song written by Joe Bonamassa & Tom Hambridge 7. Lazy Poker Blues (originally performed by Fleetwood Mac) 8. You Sure Drive a Hard Bargain (originally performed by Albert King) 9. The Truth Hurts Feat Kirk Fletcher and Josh Smith (originally performed by Kenny Neal) 10. Is It Safe To Go Home *original song written by Josh Smith
Blues Deluxe Remastered by Joe Bonamassa
1. You Upset Me Baby 2. Burning Hell 3. Blues Deluxe 4. Man Of Many Words 5. Woke Up Dreaming 6. I Don’t Live Any Where 7. Wild About You Baby 8. Long Distance Blues 9. Pack It Up 10. Left Overs 11. Walking Blues 12. Mumbling Word
Summer 2023 U.S. Tour August 2 – Vina Robles Amphitheatre – Paso Robles, CA August 4 – The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas – Las Vegas, NV August 5 – Eccles Theater – Salt Lake City, UT August 6 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO August 9 – Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles, CA^ August 12 – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater – Wantagh, NY** August 13 – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts – Bethel, NY**
**Keeping the Blues Alive presents: Joe Bonamassa & Friends: Styx and Don Felder, formerly of the Eagles ^Joe Bonamassa with Orchestra
Fall 2023 U.S. Tour October 23 – Memphis, TN – The Cannon Center October 25 – Shreveport, LA – Shreveport Municipal Auditorium October 27 – San Antonio, TX – Majestic Theatre October 28 – Sugar Land, TX – Smart Financial Centre At Sugar Land October 29 – Austin, TX – ACL Live November 1 – Fayetteville, AR – Walton Arts Center November 3 – Little Rock, AR – Robinson Performance Hall November 4 – Grand Prairie, TX – Texas Trust CU Theatre November 5 – Oklahoma City, OK – Civic Center Music Hall November 8 – Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Theater November 10 – Kansas City, MO – The Midland Theatre November 11 – St. Louis, MO – The Fabulous Fox November 12 – Cedar Rapids, IA – Paramount Theatre November 14 – Rochester, MN – Mayo Civic Center November 15 – Rockford, IL – Coronado Performing Arts Center November 17 – Fort Wayne, IN – Embassy Theatre November 18 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre November 19 – Columbus, OH – Palace Theatre November 21 – Reading, PA – The Santander Performing Arts Center November 22 – Providence, RI – Providence Performance Arts Center November 24 – Springfield, MA – Symphony Hall November 25 – Baltimore, MD – The Lyric November 28 – Savannah, GA – Johnny Mercer Theatre November 30 – Sarasota, FL – Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall December 1 – Estero, FL – Hertz Arena December 2 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live
ABOUT JOE BONAMASSA
Blues-rock superstar Joe Bonamassa is one of the most celebrated performing musicians of today. As a three-time GRAMMY-nominated artist and 13x Blues Music Award Nominee (4 wins), he achieved his 26th No. 1 album on the Billboard Blues Chart with Tales Of Time, a sprawling and expansive live concert film and album, shot at the breathtaking Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado in August 2022. Only in his mid-40s, Bonamassa has become a living legend with an astounding multi-genre catalog. He has released more than 40 albums, including studio and live recordings, as well as collaborative albums with his adventurous side projects: Black Country Communion and Rock Candy Funk Party.
A prolific writer who is always on the hunt to expand his eclectic musical horizons, Bonamassa has a limitless work ethic whether it’s in a studio, on the road, or working with other artists to spur new music. In recent years, he has produced an immense number of albums including Joanne Shaw Taylor, Marc Broussard, Larry McCray, Jimmy Hall and others for his independent label KTBA Records, and has also recently launched Journeyman LLC, a full-service artist management, record label, concert promotion, and marketing company that builds awareness for independent artists worldwide. Recent producing highlights include ‘Crown’ by the blues legend Eric Gales, which was nominated for “Best Contemporary Blues Album” at the 2023 GRAMMY Awards.
Bonamassa has been featured in several publications from Esquire, WSJ, and Parade to Rolling Stone and American Songwriter, as well as on the covers of Guitar World, Guitar Player, Vintage Guitar, Guitarist, and Classic Rock Magazine. His non-profit Keeping The Blues Alive provides funds and resources to schools and artists in need and has positively impacted more than 91k students to date while raising over 2 million in donations.
With the Newest single from the upcoming album “Tangram Apocalypse”, STRIKE MASTER‘s 2023 line up shows a massive display of riffing and melodic passages, mixed in a change of tempo HD recording. One of the toughest out of this band so far. The latest single “Black to the Future” is available on all streaming platforms and available for purchase through the band’s Bandcamp page. Check out the lyric video below.
Tracklist:
Crystallized Here Comes the Incubus We die Tonight Lost within Compass Heavy Metal Black to the Future Prototype God Save the Fire
Recorded in Mexico City at Confederate Musick Studio MiX and Mastered by Erick Monzonis at Dark House Audio
The album will be released through singles starting on June 1st 2023, Final release date and CD sale: September 1st 2023
Strike Master is: KMU – Guitars and Vocals Konspirator – Drums Walter Kleinert – Bass
QUADVIUM are set to begin production on long-awaited debut album from prominent fretless bass duo – Steve Di Giorgio (Testament, Death) and Jeroen Paul Thesseling (Obscura, Pestilence)!
Currently, with all the necessary pieces in place, the quarted is refining and finalizing 7-8 songs, now that the final band member has not only joined the group, but has taken the reigns of composer phenom.
Long-awaited debut…?? Yes, the first news of the group’s existence went public in late ’19. After some new band member announcements which didn’t pan out, busy schedules and throw a pandemic in there… It took some overcoming those obstacles and perseverence to find the right pieces – both human and musical to finally be at the stages of early preproduction for the band’s first album.
Studio time for preliminary tracking is set for late August and the bass duo foresee an early ’24 release.
Furthermore Steve and Jeroen shared: “Next announcement will unveil the full lineup and more details of the process that has brought us to this point of being very proud and excited to deliver our hard work in the form of some pretty unique music!”
Keep a close watch for the QUADVIUM!
QUADVIUM line-up (in progress): Steve Di Giorgio – bass Jeroen Paul Thesseling – bass
Please Note, STEVE DI GIORGIO is available for studio sessions as well as session bassist for tours. For further information, please contact tarja@splitscreenproduction.com.
The fretless guru, STEVE DI GIORGIO doesn’t need any longer introductions, as he is widely renowned as a pioneer on the fretless bass in heavy metal music, being the bassist of TESTAMENT, DEATH and SADUS, among others. Within his genre, STEVE DI GIORGIO is respected for his playing skills, versatility and incredible technique. He has more than 40 studio album recordings and over 30 years of touring the world.
With only a month left until the release of CYHRA‘s new album The Vertigo Trigger, the Swedes today deliver the album’s third single ‘IF I‘. The melodic metallers, based around singer Jake E (ex-AMARANTHE) and guitarists Jesper Strömblad (THE HALO EFFECT/ex-IN FLAMES) and Euge Valovirta (ex-SHINING), offer a track brimming with tuneful heaviness, ear-worm riffs, and a striking chorus. The track especially salutes the Gothenburg metal scene, meaning that ‘IF I‘ provides all the elements to make a perfect CYHRA song.
Along with the release of the new single, the Swedes also present an accompanying new visualizer video, which can be witnessed here:
Vocalist Jake E comments: “‘IF I’ is a song that includes all the influences we all grew up with from the Gothenburg metal scene. Great melodies with a sing along chorus. The video is directed by ourselves with material captured by band and crew during our 9-show tour in Japan this past January.”
Drummer Alex Landenburg adds: “It’s probably our heaviest track so far and I just can’t get enough of that riff! Pure Gothenburg metal!”
Guitarist Euge Valovirta about the new song: ”I intentionally wrote the song for one of my YouTube-videos and people really liked it and were asking where they could buy it. I sent it to Jake, and even he loved it instantly. He tweaked the verse and chorus a bit to make it a bit more of a Cyhra tune and it turned out fantastic. It’s kind of an old school Gothenburg style – melodic metal song and the title is a bit of a word play about a certain band that was one of the inspirations for the song. It starts with amazing drum fill by Alex and after that the cows are out from the barn and running wild. Hell yeah!”
Marcus Sunesson adds: ”’IF I’ is one of the faster, up-tempo songs on the new album. Cyhra’s way of paying homage to the Gothenburg scene with all the glorious melodies and riffs. A real banger and a fun song to play!”
Jesper Strömblad comments as well: “This tune is the fastest track we ever wrote. It’s so much fun to play, we can’t wait to share it with you on stage. See you in the pit!”
Recorded in the summer/autumn of 2022, The Vertigo Trigger is the band’s darkest album to date. The album was entirely self-produced and mixed by guitarist Euge Valovirta, whilst the mastering was handled by long-term producer Jacob Hansen. This new album offers fans the classic CYHRA sound, full of the band’s trademarks, but fresh and refined. The Swedes have modernised their song writing meaning that no CYHRA fan will be disappointed, making The Vertigo Trigger a more than worthy successor to their first two albums.
And although guitarist Jesper Strömblad isn’t a part of CYHRA‘s live shows currently, he was deeply involved in the writing and recording process of the album. Therefore, the band can hardly wait for his return as soon as he is ready again.
The Vertigo Trigger tracklisting 01. Ready To Rumble 02. Let’s Have My Story Told 03. Live A Little 04. 1.000.000 Fahrenheit 05. Buried Alive 06. The Voice You Need To Hear 07. Life Is A Hurricane 08. IF I 09. Fear Of Missing Out 10. Ashlight 11. Too Old For Fairy Tales
CYHRA is: Jake E – lead vocals Euge Valovirta – lead guitar (and bass) Alex Landenburg – drums Marcus Sunesson – guitars Jesper Strömblad – guitars (and bass)
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
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 