Jason McMaster (Watchtower/Broken Teeth/Dirty Looks etc.) has multiple things going on simultaneously with regards to music. Cassius King released their 2nd album on Friday October 21st, “Dread The Dawn” as McMaster finds himself filling in as the lead singer for the band Accept.
McMaster said, “Strange things happen. Never in a million years, would I ever think I would be doing this. It’s an honor to be asked to fill in for a few days for great singer and super nice guy, Mark Tornillo. I spoke to him on the phone and he sounded good, healing up from a bad upper respiratory infection. I’ve been a fan of his and of course, Accept , since high school. Interesting side note, this happening when the new Cassius King record, Dread the Dawn, comes out today. Cassius King hailing mostly from New Jersey, is where the bulk of these Accept shows are and where I sit now . Again, strange things happen”.
In addition to McMaster on vocals, Cassius King is Dan Lorenzo ( Hades/Patriarchs In Black) guitars, bassist Jimmy Schulman ( Hades/Dreams of Venus) and drummer Ron Lipnicki ( Overkill/Vessel Of Light) Dread The Dawn is out today in America on California’s Nomad Eel Records and in Europe on Germany’s MDD Records. The band’s new video/single for the track Abandon Paradise will be out Tuesday on MDD’s YouTube page.
All-star project Feelingless just recently annnounced the release of the band’s upcoming studio album, entitled “Metal Against Animal Cruelty”, which will be coming out on December 2nd via Noble Demon. Brought to life by Hugo Markaida, member of Spanish melodic death metal band Rise to Fall, Feelingless is a project to support animal rights and to give a voice to the voiceless. Featuring top notch guest appearances by the likes of Björn Strid (Soilwork), Jon Howard (Threat Signal), Christian Älvestam (Solution .45, Miseration) and Ettore Rigotti & Claudio (Disarmonia Mundi) – just to name a few – “Metal Against Animal Cruelty” offers eleven tracks and the proceeds raised from this release will be donated to an international animal welfare organization and to local animal shelters in Spain.
Following the release of the first single and album opener “Feelingless” (feat. Björn “Speed” Strid), the second single “Nostalgia” has been released today, featuring stellar guest appearances from Jake E (Cyhra) & Rachel Aspe of Cage Fight.
Hugo Markaida about the song: “This track is sung by Jake E of Cyhra and ex-Amaranthe and Rachel ex ETHS and currently in Cage Fight. It’s a track I composed in the middle of confinement, which is partly the fault of Ola Englund (Youtuber and guitarist in The Haunted) who every week would post a drum kit for musicians to put to music and riff on his bases. It pushed me to make different music than what I usually create. The lyrics of this track talk about covid and confinement. It’s a track with a brutal mix as Rachel screams and Jake provides the melodic vocals, accompanied by some brutal guitar solos from Pedro with a keyboard solo from Diego. Lawrence’s drumming takes this track to another level from what I had written.“
Feelingless itself was born in the middle of the pandemic, although the idea had been in the germ for a long time, as Hugo Markaida explains: “My taste for this kind of projects began when I discovered, a few years before picking up the guitar, ‘The metal opera Pt. 1’ by Avantasia in a local music store. An album that brought together many of my favorite heavy and power metal singers that, wrapped in a medieval fantasy concept, was for a teenager like me an object of devotion. If we jump in time to the moment when I was composing the material that would make up the fifth album of my band Rise To Fall, just moments before the pandemic, many of the ideas and compositions that I liked the most did not specifically fit to the band and, as in every album, I had to put them aside. Still thinking about that Avantasia album that impacted me when I was a teenager, to bring out a project of that magnitude myself with my favorite singers must have had a sense of importance for the person I am today. Something special that would draw attention to one of the causes I am most committed to. And, incidentally, to support it with the profits resulting from the project. Both my partner and I are animal lovers, and we live surrounded by rescued animals. That is why it seemed important to me that, at a time when the whole of humanity was suffering from a global crisis and its consequences, we could not forget the most vulnerable. Thus, I began to outline the concept of the album around the exploitation and mistreatment of animals. I was willing to work with the best and most favorite of my artists, so I started composing the songs thinking beforehand about who was going to interpret them. I told the participating artists all about the project and its charitable nature, with no profit for the artists involved in favor of associations that help animals in need. It was touching to see how my idols sympathized with the cause and joined the project selflessly.”
The result is “Metal Against Animal Cruelty”, a diverse metal album with twenty magnificent singers and musicians supporting the good cause on eleven tracks!
The album was produced, recorded and mastered at Chromaticity Studios by Pedro J Monge. Music and lyrics by Hugo Markaida (Except Anxiety Lyrics and music by Iñigo Lopez and music in Fear & Guilt by Iñigo & Hugo and Lyrics by Hugo). “Metal Against Animal Cruelty” will be coming out on December 2nd and is available for pre-order HERE
Tracklist:
Feelingless feat. Björn “Speed” Strid(Soilwork, The Nightflight Orchestra) & Lawrence Dinamarca
Anguish feat. Jon Howard(Threat Signal, Imonolith) & Gavin Iedema, NeroArgento, Lawrence Dinamarca
Peace feat. Mikael Sehlin (Degradead, Engel) & Lawrence Dinamarca
Love feat. Ettore Riggoti & Claudio Ravinale (Disarmonia Mundi)
Hope feat. Christian Älvestam (Solution .45, Miseration)
Nostalgia feat. Rachel Aspe (Cage Fight, Ex- ETHS) & Jake E (Cyhra, Ex- Amaranthe) & Lawrence Dinamarca, Diego Zapatero
Guit feat. Björn “Speed” Strid (Soilwork, The Nightflight Orchestra)
Pride feat. Daniel Heiman (Harmony, Heed, Ex-Lost Horizon)
Fear feat. Ville Viljanen (Mors Principium Est) & Dann Hoyos (Rise To Fall, The Space Octopus)
Rock music’s most exciting debut of 2022, CLASSLESS ACT, are giving listeners a different, unplugged take on the amped up, energetic anthems that make up their acclaimed album, Welcome To The Show, which was released June 24 via Better Noise Music and has already racked up more than 2 million streams.
Starting today, the L.A.-based five-piece will launch a series of acoustic versions of the record’s hit singles, beginning with the self-titled song “Classless Act” alongside a new video.
Classless Act singer Derek Day recently appeared at the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert at L.A.’s Kia Forum on Sept. 27 where Day joined Dave Grohl and members of the Foo Fighters as well as Motley Crue for a special two-song set. He was personally recommended for a spot on the all-star lineup by The Darkness’ Justin Hawkins who also appears on the Classless Act track, “This Is For You.”
In December, Classless Act will head out on the road again with Billboard chart toppers Giovannie & The Hired Guns for a U,S. tour that begins in Mobile, AL and wraps in Richmond, VA, with more dates to be announced. Tickets are on sale now at https://classlessact.com/#tour.
Over the next two months, Classless Act will release a new acoustic take and new video every two weeks, culminating in a 5-song collection, Welcome To The Acoustic Show, on December 16. The additional releases will include unplugged versions of “This Is For You,” “Time To Bleed,” “All That We Are” and “Storm Before the Calm.”
Recorded live at Sunset Sound, with no overdubs, the new takes hone in on the talent of frontman Derek Day and the musicianship of the talented-beyond-their-young-years ensemble that includes Dane Pieper (guitar), Griffin Tucker(guitar), Franco Gravante (bass), and Chuck McKissock (drums). Gravante personally mixed the acoustic tracks himself.
“Every song on the album pretty much started out this way. And we thought it would be cool for you to hear where we started. And we decided if we were going to do this, it needs to be LIVE; no f**ing around,” says Derek Day.
Upon Welcome To The Show’srelease on June 24, Classless Act immediately garnered critical acclaim with press hailing them as “the next big thing in music” (Next Mosh) and “very reminiscent of when rock reigned supreme” (Loudwire). The Rock Pit declared the songs on the album “break like Queen used to so well into flamboyant guitar [with] Supertramp meets Muse aplomb,” and New Noisealso said it’s a record “that feels most easily summed up as ‘powerful’” from “a new-ish band who sound like the greatest hits of ‘70s and ‘80s rock eras, with a grace and vibe that’s more modern.”
The album reviews echoed the positive reviews the band has received for their live show, having shared the stage with Dorothy and Dirty Honey as well as an opening slot on the summer’s biggest tour, the $173.5 million grossing Stadium Tour that graced major stadiums across the country and Canada.
Seeing Classless Act live, BraveWordssaid they “sealed their place among hard rock’s new elite.” Splice affirmed, “While the band may be new, they performed liked seasoned pros…Their music was filled with driving beats, big hooks, great guitar work and equally as important tons of rock n’ roll attitude.” And Dread Musicsaid, “Classless Actabsolutely made their presence known as they served up high octane rock music on a platter to everyone in the park…I was a fan before they finished their first song. This band is another in the army of acts
that are the future of rock n roll and I have no doubt that Classless Act will be out there headlining their own tour soon enough.”
In addition to appearing on the Stadium Tour that featured Def Leppard, Joan Jett and Motley Crue, Classless Actalso played Aftershock (Oct. 9), the West Coast’s Biggest Rock Festival, where they shared the bill with Muse, Bring Me The Horizon and The Struts.
CLASSLESS ACT SUPPORTING GIOVANNIE & THE HIRED GUNS TOUR DATES
Dec 1 – Mobile, AL @ Soul Kitchen Dec 2 – Destin, FL @ Club LA Dec 7 – Orlando, FL @ House of Blues Dec 8 – Chattanooga, TN @ Barrel House Dec 9 – Louisville, KY @ Mercury Ballroom Dec 10 – Johnson City, TN @ Capones Dec 14 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Wonder Bar Dec 16 – Syracuse, NY @ Lost Horizon Dec 17 – Harrisonburg, PA @ Stage on Herr Dec 18 – Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry
BENEATH MY FEET have announced their worldwide signing with Germany’s powerhouse label Noble Demon for the release of the band’s upcoming new album, entitled “In Parts, Together”.
Hailing from northern Sweden, Beneath My Feet combine influences from the American metal sound and the British hardcore scene to produce what is best described as a loving rhytmic punch to the face. Their music brings together heavy rhythm, pop influenced melodic choruses and catchy riffs, an intense blend that not only earned the band a steadily growing name within the scene, but also several tours across Europe and performances with bands like Dead By April, Amaranthe, The Unguided, Machinae Supremacy, Corroded and many others.
Beneath My Feet stated:
“We are proud to announce that we are now signed to Noble Demon. With this new partnership, we hope to be able to expand our reach to new audiences while also producing quality content for our long-time listeners.”
Noble Demon CEO Patrick Walch adds:
“I’ve always been a huge fan of this style of metal, some of my favorite artists come up with killer breakdowns like our Swedish lads in BENEATH MY FEET manage to offer in its finest way. They grab you by the balls and smash you right back on the floor, lovely! :- ) There are many young metalcore bands around but it’s not easy to find a really good and dedicated one which can still surprise you with their art. And it’s always hard when you sign an excellent band and instantly wanna tell it to the world but have to hold back for a few more weeks until everything is prepared but today is the day where we can proudly tell that BENEATH MY FEET are now officially part of the NOBLE DEMON roster!”
Beneath My Feet‘s new studio album will be released on January 13, 2023 and deals with themes such as abuse, trauma, anxiety and grief. “Having lived through the events chronicled on the album takes a toll on any person, but through sharing experiences with others and uniting in struggle, we can rise stronger again” the band comments.
Tracklist reads as follows:
Hurricane
Dig My Grave
When Both Our Worlds Collide
Dead Equal
One More Time
Sink To The Bottom or Swim For The Shore
Is This Really You
Far From Home
The Uprising
Departure
Roads (Bonus)
Vindicta (Bonus)
Lost Sailors Grave (Bonus)
In support of their soon to be released album, Beneath My Feet have released an electrifying & heavy preview of what’s to come with the music video and first single “Dig My Grave”!
Beneath My Feet about the song: “It’s a hard hitting trip into the mind of someone knowing that their end is near, how it changes them. When stripped of all control and headed straight towards damnation, what’s left to do but embrace your path? What’s more human than reclaiming your agency, commanding; Dig My Grave!“
“In Parts, Together” will be coming out on January 13th 2023 and is now available for pre-order at
‘Overdrive‘ is the riff-filled new single from Riley’s L.A Guns and is out now via Golden Robot Records.
The line-up features long time members Steve Riley, Kelly Nickels, with Scott Griffin and Kurt Frohlich made their debut in 2019 before releasing their album Renegades, featuring singles ‘All That You Are,’ ‘Crawl,’ ‘You Can’t Walk Away‘ and title track ‘Renegades.’
This track comes in anticipation of their upcoming album, expected to be in their fans hands in mid 2023.
Overdrive‘ marks a new era for the band with an atmospheric approach to it. The track is highly energized from the get-go with no shortage of the instrumental breaks you love and the tantalizing vocals that keep engaged throughout the song.
“All this bullshit that rock is dead, just have a listen to this killer new single from Riley’s LA Guns and it’s proof that it’s not only alive but it’s screaming and yelling the house down.” comments Golden Robot Global Entertainment Group CEO and President Mark Alexander-Erber
Drummer Steve Riley has also expressed his excitement at the new era the band is entering, saying”We are so excited about this second album from the band The Dark Horse and we feel we really took it up a notch with the songwriting, performances, and production after our well received first album Renegades. This first single ‘Overdrive‘ is a balls out rocker and a great way to open this new album. We know you guys are going to love it and we can’t wait to see you out on the road in 2023!“
To accompany their new single ‘Overdrive,’ the band are releasing a limited addition bundle series.
With each single leading up to the release of their new album The Dark Horse, Riley’s L.A. Guns are putting out a limited edition bundle, with bundle #1 out for pre-order today. Each bundle will include a limited edition red 7″ vinyl and a different coloured 12″ of the upcoming album, with bundle #1 12″ being orange.
“We are very excited to be releasing a 7” vinyl single. It features two songs that mean a lot to us. ‘Ballad of Jayne’ has been re-recorded the way it was initially written, acoustically.” says long-time bassist Kelly Nickels.
Bundle #1 is available for pre-order now and includes; 12″ Orange The Dark Horse vinyl 7″ Red Double A-Side single vinyl
Stock is limited. You can pre-order the bundle on the Golden Robot Records online store HERE
ABOUT RILEY’S L.A. GUNS
L.A. Guns got their start on Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip. The band was formed in 1986 and signed with Polygram Records in 1987, recording their first album that summer. This first album, titled L.A. Guns went on to sell over 1,000,000 copies giving the band its first platinum award. Tours with AC/DC, Iron Maiden and Def Leppard followed.
L.A. Guns went into the studio to record their second album, Cocked and Loaded in the spring of 1989. It was a hit right away with the release of “Rip and Tear” as the first single and video. ”Never Enough” and “The Ballad of Jayne” followed, pushing the album toward platinum status once again. A successful world tour followed.
The band’s third album, Hollywood Vampires was recorded in the fall of 1990. With the release of “Kiss My Love Goodbye” as the first single and video, and another successful world tour, the album gave L.A. Guns its third platinum in a row.
The band went back into the studio in 1994 to start work on their next album Vicious Circle. Between 1996 and 1999, the band’s members branched out recording and working on outside projects. In late 1999, L.A. Guns went into the studio to record a greatest hits package titled Black Beauties that also included five new songs written for the album.
The band toured with Poison, Ratt, and others throughout the summer of 2000.
In 2001, the band released its sixth studio album, Man in the Moon. The band also changed bass guitarists with Adam Hamilton joining the band. A successful world tour followed.
L.A. Guns entered the studio for their seventh album in early 2002 with veteran producer Andy Johns, who had worked with the likes of Led Zeppelin and Van Halen to record Waking the Dead.
The album was released in late 2002 and garnered L.A. Guns some of the best reviews the band had ever received.
When the US tour to support Waking the Dead ended, Tracii announced that he was “officially” leaving L.A. Guns. The band went into the studio in January of 2004 to record Rips the Covers Off with producer Andy Johns. This was a collection of 70’s rock songs. Once again, the band went on a full world tour to support the new CD…
In May of 2005, L.A. Guns began work on Tales from the Strip with Andy Johns again producing. L.A. Guns hooked up with WASP for an early summer through September tour. In early 2006, L.A. Guns did some local L.A. shows and recorded them for a new live CD. This new live CD, Loud and Dangerous was released late August 2006 with the band again supporting it with a world tour.
In Early 2007 long time bassist Adam Hamilton decided to do song writing and producing full time. The guys acquired Hollywood veteran Scotty Griffin, but in Mid 2009 Griffin left the band to do a residency in Las Vegas. Kenny Kweens from Beautiful Creatures quickly came aboard as the new bass guitarist. 2011 sparked the triumphant return of Scotty Griffin on Bass.
The band released their tenth studio album Hollywood Forever in June 2012. The album was produced once again by veteran music producer, Andy Johns.
The new record debuted at #25 on the Billboard Rock charts with the title track “Hollywood Forever”, and it was considered one of the best Hard Rock albums of 2012 by fans and critics alike, proving once again that L.A. Guns were on top of their game with additional tracks “You Better Not Love Me” and “Sweet Mystery”.
In December 2012, guitarist Stacey Blades announced his departure after serving the band for almost ten years, to follow a different musical direction. In January 2013, the talented guitarist Michael Grant – frontman of his own band, Endeverafter -crossed paths with singer Phil Lewis. His dynamic performance complimented Guns’ raw rock n’ roll energy, and he hit the ground running as the new lead guitarist.
In September of 2014, Kenny Kweens replaced Scotty Griffin as the band’s bassist.
After some time down and a few personnel changes , the band has been reborn as Riley’s LA Guns with the return of original member Kelly Nickels on bass, Steve Riley who had been the most consistent member throughout the years still on drums, Scotty Griffin on guitar and Kurt Frohlich on lead singer and singed a multi album deal with International independent powerhouse rock label Golden Robot Records and released their debut album as Riley’s LA GunsRenegades to critical acclaim.
Now with more than 30 years’ worth of noteworthy material , platinum sales, world tours and controversy, the band have proved to be true warriors of the 80’s hard rock genre and are geared to tear it up across the world giving audiences the high octane Rock-n-Roll that is Riley’s L.A. Guns.
2022 will be the first new single ‘Overdrive’ from their forthcoming 2nd album The Dark Horse out on Golden Robot Records in 2023.
Carolinas based, heavy rock band THE LA MAYBE has announced UK dates for THE LONG ROAD TOUR! Launching 12/3/2022 at WINTER ROCKS FESTIVAL in Sheffield, England, sweeping through Wales and Scotland, the UK run wraps up 12/16/2022 in Bridgwater, England.
Tour Dates: 12/03 @ Winter Rocks – Sheffield, England 12/04 @ The Patriot – Crumlin, England 12/05 @ Hope & Anchor – London, England 12/07 @ The Waterloo Music Bar – Blackpool, England 12/08 @ Nightrain – Bradford, England 12/09 @ Brickyard – Carlisle, England 12/12 @ Bannerman’s – Edinburgh, Scotland 12/13 @ B2 Venue – Norwich, England 12/14 @ Canvas – Bournemouth, England 12/16 @ The Cobblestones – Bridgwater, England
“’The Long Road’ was written for anyone who feels like they aren’t where they want to be in life. For those feeling lost or out of place. For the dreamers who long to fly away from the mundane. Each verse signifies a vignette of a different type of struggle. We’ve more than likely all been one (or all) of the 4 characters at some point in our lives. More than anything, ‘The Long Road’ symbolizes hope and the will to never give up on what you want out of life.” – Dallas Dwight, The L.A. Maybe
Track List: 1. Mr. Danger 2. Sucker Punch 3. Oh Sugar 4. She’s Reckless 5. Peace of Mind 6. When I’m Gone 7. Take Me Away 8. Sweet 9. Fake 10. Up Next to You 11. Oh Sugar (Acoustic) 12. When I’m Gone (Acoustic) 13. Peace of Mind (Demo) 14. She’s Reckless (Demo) 15. The Long Road (Acoustic)
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 ) 