Yet another sad news today… ZZ TOP bass player Dusty Hill has passed away in his sleep at 72.
The band has issued via their official Facebook Page: “We are saddened by the news today that our Compadre, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at home in Houston, TX. We, along with legions of ZZ Top fans around the world, will miss your steadfast presence, your good nature and enduring commitment to providing that monumental bottom to the ‘Top’. We will forever be connected to that “Blues Shuffle in C.” You will be missed greatly, amigo. Frank & Billy”
Metal Blade Records is proud to welcome A-Z to its worldwide roster!
A-Z (pronounced “A through Z”) equals Ray Alder (Fates Warning; vocals) and Mark Zonder (ex-Fates Warning, Warlord; drums), and also means “anything is possible” – and with this line-up of musicians, that is no exaggeration. This exciting new band reunites Alder with Zonder, and they’re joined by Philip Bynoe (Warlord, Steve Vai, Nuno Bettencourt) on bass, Joop Wolters (Steve Walsh, Simon Phillips) on guitar, and Vivien Lalu (Steve Walsh, Jordan Rudess) on keys.
Zonder comments: “When we were looking for a deal, Metal Blade was number one on the list. First worked with Brian Slagel about 40 years with ‘Metal Massacre II’ and Warlord. No question that they do a great job and we are very excited and proud to be back at MB.”
Musically, A-Z is melodic and progressive, bringing to mind the classic Fates Warning-era of albums like Parallels and Pleasant Shade Of Grey, while recalling the hooks of classic 70’s and 80’s hard rock artists. The band’s upcoming debut will be the first time Alder and Zonder have recorded together since 2004, and it will surely please both Fates Warning and melodic hard rock fans alike. Stay tuned for more news about A-Z coming soon!
In the meantime, fans can check out a video signing message from A-Z and Metal Blade CEO/founder Brian Slagel HERE:
A-Z line-up: Ray Alder – vocals Mark Zonder -drums Philip Bynoe – bass Joop Wolters – guitar Vivien Lalu – keys
You look pretty cool, You look pretty nice Well let me give you a little advise You driving me into a nervous wreck And all I want is a little success Just a little success Just a little success
– The Pumps, “Success”, 1980
The music roots of Winnipeg, Manitoba run deep with more than “just a little success” with the international prominence of Neil Young, The Guess Who, B.T.O. and Burton Cummings setting a high standard. Throughout the 70s a homegrown rock sound continued to evolve in Western Canada and while acts like Loverboy and Trooper were finding international success, The Prairies would brew their own driving beats with acts like Streetheart, Harlequin, Queen City Kids and … THE PUMPS.
Formed in 1978 by taking their name from a random pick in a local phone book, THE PUMPS consisted of the unmistakable vocals of bassist Chris Burke-Gaffney and drummer Terry Norman Taylor (TNT). Joined by quirky guitarist Lou Petrovich, who was compared to greats like Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page, and Brent Diamond’s tapestry of keyboards creating a lush background, THE PUMPS unique blend of infectious pop/rock and high energy live shows made them a regular on the touring circuit opening for acts such as AC/DC, Triumph and Styx.
THE PUMPS quickly signed an international recording deal with Polydor Records in 1979 and flew to Le Studio in Morin Heights, Quebec to record their debut album with British producers Phil Chapman and Jon Astley at the helm. Gotta Move was released in 1980 to critical acclaim. The powerful singles “Success,” “Coffee With The Queen” and “Bust The TV” become staples on Canadian rock radio airwaves through the 80s.
In 1983, the group signed with CBS/Portrait, changed their name to ORPHAN and released 2 more albums. The single “Miracle” was a top 10 hit. In 1991, Burke-Gaffney and Taylor briefly reunited to release one album as The Deadbeat Honeymooners.
Vocalist Chris Burke-Gaffney would go on to form CBG Artist Development to manage and develop singer/songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk, co-writing and producing her Juno Award-winning and triple-platinum album, Under These Rocks and Stones. He continues to develop new artists gaining accolades, chart success and Juno nominations along the way.
The unique story of THE PUMPS & ORPHAN was told by film maker Terry Goring in the 2016 documentary “Just Little Success.” The group continues to perform live on the classic rock circuit as THE PUMPS & ORPHAN with Burke-Gaffney, Taylor, Diamond and Orphan guitarist Steve McGovern.
Gotta Move is finally released on CD for the first time by Music In Motion Entertainment as Gotta Move – The 40th Anniversary Edition. Fully remastered, Gotta Move includes 4 bonus tracks : An early live recording of “Bust The TV,” an equally early recording of “Steel & Iron” (which would eventually appear on the ORPHAN disc Salute), the radio edit of their biggest hit “Success” and a brand new acoustic version of “Coffee With The Queen.”
Gotta Move is licensed for distribution by Music In Motion Entertainment. Gotta Move is available through their webstore on RockPaperMerch.com Gotta Move is distributed to retail worldwide exclusively by Isotope Music Inc
The announcement of the brand new JINJER record, Wallflowers, out August 27 via Napalm Records, has not only caused immediate ripples around the world and delighted international reviewers and fans alike, but the band’s first single, “Vortex”, has already gained 2.5 million cross-platform streams/views in no time.
Continuing their unstoppable way to the top, the band has just released their head-splitting second single “Mediator” and a brand-new crushing music video. The second track cut from the new album demonstrates once again that their unique sonic vision combined with visual attitude is more than peerless. Frenetic drumming combined with technically adept, fast firing bass and guitar attacks, merging with the unmatched mix of Tatiana Shmayluk’s clear vocals, pungent rap-like passages and ferocious growling. The track’s high-quality audiovisual bombardment draws the viewer into the spell of the progressive spectacle and constructs the visual antithesis of the postmodern utopia thematized within the track.
JINJER on the tone of the new single: “With years getting older, we often realize that the world around us is far from what we expected it to be. Through the eyes of a kid everything seemed way more colorful, better and optimistic, didn’t it? When did it all turn wrong? When did it all turn so gray? Is this really the world’s fault? Or it is only about us chasing the wrong goals… the wrong careers, ambitions and achievements, rather than embracing one important truth… Rephrasing John Lennon, if one chases something else other than happiness, then they didn’t understand life at all …”
Already regarded as one of the most anticipated metal albums of the year, with Wallflowers, JINJER once again prove their exceptional knack for mixing groove, prog, alternative and experimental influences to create a sound unlike anything that has ever come before it.
Eugene Abdukhanov on the new album: “Growing creatively has always been a major goal for us. The day JINJER stops reaching for new musical horizons will be our last day as a band. We could have churned out what our peers expected us to do, or produce ‘Pisces’ clones without end, but we’ve never done that and we never will. Instead, we wrote an album whose level of emotions range from the fiercest aggression we’ve ever had, to the most intricate melodies and melancholic vibes you could ever get from our music. We decided to rip apart all possible stylistic boundaries without regard to financial success or competing with our previous albums. Wallflowers is a different kind of album musically and visually. It’s about our identity as a band, as individuals and a clear statement that we are different from most artists… and that it is OK to do your own thing.”
Wallflowersnot only presents a methodical and premeditated next step in the band’s already imposing career, but moreover, it mirrors the personal adversities they’ve faced due to the worldwide events of the last year. Wallflowersis not only an upgrade to the progressive groove metal sound that all JINJER fans crave, but also a sonic pressure cooker of technical musicianship, emotional fury and an intense soundtrack befitting the harrowing state of the world today. Hailing from the conflict-ridden Ukrainian region of Donetsk but now calling Kiev their home base, JINJER truly do not mince words – or riffs – on Wallflowers. Their exceptional precision of modern metal paired with tough as nails attitude has earned them a fiercely loyal, rabid fanbase and massive critical acclaim, making JINJER one of the most talked about bands today and garnering them many sold out performances across the globe. With nearly all of JINJER’s releases composed between vans, backstage rooms and constant touring, Wallflowerscontinues where its predecessor Macro left off, only this time with less distraction and more time to focus on songwriting.
Tracklisting:
1 Call Me a Symbol 2 Colossus 3 Vortex 4 Disclosure! 5 Copycat 6 Pearls and Swine 7 Sleep of the Righteous 8 Wallflower 9 Dead Hands Feel No Pain 10 As I Boil Ice 11 Mediator
Catch JINJER on these EU festivals in 2021: 31.07. – LUSTENAU (AT) – Szene Open Air 15.08. – KORTRIJK (BE) – Alcatraz Festival 17.08. – BUDAPEST (HU) – Summer Hell Open Air 22.08. – EINDHOVEN (NL) – Dynamo Metal Fest 28.08. – FUENGIROLA (ES) – Metal Paradise 29.08. – CREMA (IT) – Crema Luppolo in Rock 04.09. – CAMPULUNG MUSCEL (RO) – Posada Rock Festival 09.09. – ST. PETERSBURG (RU) – Cosmonaut 10.09. – MOSCOW (RU) – Arbat Hall 11.09. – WIENER NEUSTADT (AT) – Novarock Pilot 18.09. – WACKEN (DE) – Bullhead City 02.10. – COLOGNE (DE) – Euroblast Festival
JINJER 2021 EU tour: plus special guest: HUMANITY’S LAST BREATH plus support: HYPNO5E 16.09. – BRATISLAVA (SK) Majestic 17.09. – HOLLERSBACH (AT) Lake Rock 19.09. – JABLONEC NAD NISOU (CZ) Eurocentrum 20.09. – KRAKOW (PL) Hype Park 22.09. – LEIPZIG (DE) Hellraiser 23.09. – ROSTOCK (DE) Mau Club 24.09. – POTSDAM (DE) Lindenpark 25.09. – AARHUS (DK) Train 26.09. – NIJMEGEN (NL) Doornroosje 28.09. – REIMS (FR) Cartonnerie 29.09. – PRATTELN (CH) Z7 30.09. – MANNHEIM (DE) Alte Feuerwache 01.10. – SAARBRUECKEN (DE) Garage 03.10. – STRASBOURG (FR) La Laiterie
UK rock act SKARLETT RIOT will be hitting the road in support of their acclaimed Top 20 album ‘Invicta’ in November. See the tour dates in the flyer below.
Just recently the band released a new single and music video for the song ‘Underwater‘, watch it below.
The band commented; “Underwater expresses the emotions of losing yourself to your inner demons and dark thoughts in your head. The visually stunning video tells the story of a girl who is crying for help as her inner demons keep on dragging her down, pulling her deeper and deeper underground”. / Skarlett Riot.
More about latest album: ‘Invicta‘ is the most focussed and forthright release of the band’s career. Built around the spectacular vocals of Skarlett and a powerful musical landscape unique to the band, ‘Invicta‘ is a melodic, intense, and packed with anthems. Skarlett has broadened her vocals this time out, adding some harsh elements to proceedings, giving the songs and the band and aggressive edge. The album was released May 7th 2021.
Skarlett Riot have taken the scene by storm with their powerful, riff-led songs blending melody and grit with a muscular backbone. Add to that an ear for infectious hooks, a singer blessed with a huge voice, and you have a band that not only has bags of attitude but the songs to back them up! Having wowed audiences at Download Festival, earning a 4KKKK live review from KERRANG!, Leeds and Reading Festival, Metal Female Voices Festival, Bloodstock, Hard Rock Hell, Camden Rocks, Steelhouse, Takedown, Giants Of Rock, S.O.S and a host of other festivals, Skarlett Riot have also shared stages with the likes of Funeral For A Friend, Butcher Babies, Deaf Havana, The Darkness, Wednesday 13, Heaven’s Basement, Kamelot, Gus G, Devilskin, Hammerfall, Glamour Of The Kill, Leaves’ Eyes, Symo Cyco, Black Spiders, plus many more.
BUDDERSIDE bridge the gap between the sexy swagger of the Sunset Strip and the soulful depths of Seattle on their recent sophomore release SPIRITUAL VIOLENCE via Motörhead Music/Silver Lining Music. Recorded with legendary producer Jay Baumgardner (Bush, Godsmack, Papa Roach) and mastered by Grammy Award-winning engineer Howie Weinberg (Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, Garbage), the album shares heartbreak, perseverance, meditation, and resurrection from the throes of addiction across its 10 spiritually evocative and meticulously crafted songs and features guest appearances from Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell and Butcher Babies vocalist Carla Harvey.
The quintet have today (July 23) shared an evocative animated lyric video for the deeply personal track, “Things We Do,” which features MUSYCA Children’s Choir and covers the trials and tribulations of dealing with addiction.
“‘Things We Do’ is a firsthand walk through addiction, the loss of a dear friend and the hypocritical, empty promise of getting high.” Vocalist/guitarist PATRICK STONE shares
BUDDERSIDE—who were personally signed by late Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister–have built a reputation on the road, touring with staple metal acts including Slayer, Anthrax, L.A. Guns and Motörhead, as well as appearing at major worldwide music festivals including Wacken Open Air (Germany), Malmö Festival (Sweden), Motörhead’s Motörboat and Monsters Of Rock cruise. They will continue to bring their riveting performance to the stages as they have been announced as part of the lineup for Rocklahoma (Rob Zombie, Slipknot, Limp Bizkit) taking place from September 3-5. Prior to that, BUDDERSIDE will play their first show since the pandemic in their hometown of Los Angeles as they headline The North End Hollywood on Sunday, August 8.
“Budderside are one of the most exciting bands out of LA in a really long time,” “For my money–what rock music should be. They have the goods–a frontman with real swagger and incredible players who deliver their songs with passion, power and conviction.” declares former MTV VJ and music personality Matt Pinfield.
BUDDERSIDE have previously released four cinematic music video singles from SPIRITUAL VIOLENCE—including “Zen” (filmed in Tokyo, Japan) and “Pardon Me (feat. Phill Campbell),” which have been featured as finalists and official selections at various independent film festivals (Los Angeles Film Awards, Virgin Spring Cinefest, Fantasy/Sci-Fi Film & Screenplay Festival and Lift Off Global Network Berlin). Read an interview with each video’s director HERE.
‘Spiritual Violence’ is out now via Motörhead Music/Silver Lining Music. Available to order now at this location
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Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
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Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 