The news is so dense on the metal planet that it’s difficult not to lose track. Even if this section, to be found every Sunday at the end of the afternoon, is obviously not intended to be exhaustive, here is a compilation of some of the main news which punctuated the past week and which may have gone under your radar. Which doesn’t exempt you from following the HARD FORCE page daily, eh… Zapping sequence.
TEASING
The marketing date of “Merciless”, the inevitably merciless new album from BODY COUNTis not yet known, but it is becoming clearer with the release of the lyric-video for “Psychopath”.
2nd song to be found on “Forever”, 16th BON JOVI expected on June 7: “Living Proof”.
Blues-rock atmosphere for “Summertime Voodoo”, taken from “As Above, So Below”, new HIGHLY SUSPECT expected in July.
As their name suggests, the musicians ofALL FOR METAL fell into a pot of molten metal when they were little. The proof with “Gods Of Metal”, the Americans’ next LP coming in August, and the single “Valkyries In The Sky”. Is it a plane? Is it a bird? Nah, Valkyries!
Second extract from “Pirates II – Armada”, new opus of VISIONS OF ATLANTIS scheduled for July 5, “Monsters” is online.
As expected, Serj Tankian has posted “AF Day”, the first single to be found on his new EP, “Foundation”, expected this fall. An unreleased piece that he composed at the beginning of SYSTEM OF A DOWN and which had remained unpublished until then (aka “in a drawer”).
ULCERATE will be back on June 14 with “Cutting The Throat Of God”. The New Zealand technical death band proves that it has lost none of its aggressiveness with “To See Death Just Once”.
It will not be until September that “Act II” of TSARbut if you don’t know them yet, you can already get an idea of the eclectic metal of Nantes with “Conquer”.
3rd single to be found on “A Fortress Called Home”, new SEVEN SPIRE expected next month: “The Old Hurt Of Being Left Behind”.
EXITS
SLIPKNOT has confirmed that it has recorded a brand new track, “Long May You Die”, with Eloy Casagrande, its new drummer, ex-SEPULTURA and replacement for Jay Weinberg. A sentence that accompanied a mysterious poster of the group “surged” a month ago in Indio, California. Incidentally, it is also the first title released by the replacement of Craig Jones, programmer/sampler/keyboardist fired in June 2023, who is assumed to be a certain Jeff Karnowski. Which, apparently, doesn’t interest many people… The release date of the single has not yet been revealed.
LIVE
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of his 2nd album, AMORPHIS “Tales From The Thousand Lakes (Live At Tavastia)” will be released in July, a live version in Blu-ray + CD and vinyl. Find the first extract here.
LIVE IN STUDIO
A little over a month after “As Long As Your Girls Smile”, which announced the arrival in September of “Push Back The Horizon”, THE EVENING offers a live studio version.
STUDIOUS
While “Hopiumforthemasses” was released last month, MINISTRY will start working in June on whatAl Jourgensen present as “the group’s final album”.
NEWCOMERS
STYX has enlisted the services of the bassist Terry Gowanbrother of Lawrence, the singer of the group. He replaces Ricky Phillips, who left last March after 20 years with them to embark on his personal projects. Just in time before the Chicago band’s co-headlining US tour with FOREIGNER kicks off.
SIDE-PROJECTS
Jeff Watersmastermind of ANNIHILATOR, decided to look into the many musical styles – from jazz to blues, through classical music and pop, and of course heavy and rock – which inspired him with AMERIKAN CHAOS who released his first album, “Armageddon Boogie”, on April 26. “All That Jive” will follow in 2025 and “The Sheeple Swing” in 2026, because it is a trilogy. First single, “My Little Devil”.
BIG SCREENS
Sony Classic Pictures has acquired the rights to Becoming Led Zeppelin, which means that the film, which was screened in an unfinished version at the Venice International Film Festival in 2018, will soon arrive in theaters. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the company has only acquired the rights for North America, Latin America, Southwest Asia (excluding Japan), the Middle East and the Benelux. We will probably have to wait for its release on DVD/Blu-ray to be able to watch it at home.
SOLITARY ADVENTURES
After the lyric video 15 days ago, here is the clip for “Cheap Shots”, first single from the classy 27th upcoming solo LP Richie Kotzenalso guitarist/singer of THE WINERY DOGS and SMITH/KOTZEN.
It is on September 20 that we will be able to discover “The Obsession”, the first solo album of Charlotte Wessels at Napalm Records. “The Exorcism” gives an idea of what we can expect from the former singer of DELAIN.
GUESTS
3rd extract from “Apocalyptica Plays Metallica, Vol. 2″ ofAPOCALYPTICA“One” sees the presence of 2 solid gold guests: James Hetfield And Robert Trujillo (already present on “The Four Horsemen”). To note that Dave Lombardo (EMPIRE STATE BASTARD, ex-SLAYER, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES…) appears on “Blackened” which has not yet been shared by the Finns.
New single for NOTHING MORE while waiting for the release of “CARNAL” at the end of June: “Angel Song” with David Draimansinger of DISTURBED.
THEY WILL NOT AGE TOGETHER
WhileEVERGREY is preparing to release its 14th album, “Theories Of Emptiness”, on June 7, Jonas Ekdahl announced his departure from the Swedish group after 21 years behind the drums. He explained in a press release that he simply no longer felt any pleasure in playing live and touring and now intends to devote himself to composition, production and mixing. We are awaiting the name of his successor.
INTERIM’
You doubted the relevance of having called on the imperial Lzzy Halesinger/guitarist of HALESTORM, to replace – for 4 concerts in the USA – Erik Grönwall who left SKID ROW last March ? “Youth Gone Wild” should change your mind. Or, change your ears…
JUST FOR YOUR EYES… (AND YOUR EARS)
From the depths of Hell, Kerry King came to answer questions from METAL. And from the South of France (and not from Paradise), SIDILARSEN also elsewhere. To be found immediately in the new episode of METALXS.
THEIR LIFE-THEIR WORK
Marty Friedmanex-MEGADETH guitarist, virtuoso and ambassador of Japan whose new solo album, “Drama”, has just arrived in stores, announced that he had completed his autobiography. Dreaming Japanese, since that is its title, will be published on December 3, in English. Will there be a French version? Zatizekwestcheun…
DOCUMENTARIES
Alien Weaponry: Kua Tupu Te Araa documentary dedicated to… ALIEN WEAPONSRY, will be screened in June at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. A way to better understand the journey of New Zealanders, many of whose songs are in Maori. Among the distinguished guests interviewed, we will find the Duplantier brothers, Randy Blythe from LAMB OF GOD as well as Chuck Billy from TESTAMENT. The young trio will be in concert on July 1 in Paris at the Petit Bain.
TRIBUTES
Once again, the “Experience Hendrix Tour” will pay homage to the immense Jimmy and will travel across the USA next September and October for 23 concerts. And, as usual, the poster is to die for…
REVENANTS
Due to a concordance of dates with CROWBAR who will be on a European tour, it is Bobby Landgraf, who preceded him within the formation of NOLA, who will replace Kirk Windstein on June 20 for the concert of DOWN in Mescaleiro, New Mexico. The first since September 2022. As previously indicated in this section, the group, driven by Philip Anselmoalso singer of PANTERA, records a new album.
R.I.P.
Jon Wysocki, co-founding drummer of STAIND with whom he recorded 6 albums before being fired in 2011, died on May 18 at the age of 53 from liver problems. The American was also part of SOiL and most recently played in LYDIA’S CASTLE.
COMPETITION
ON TOUR
After having recently traveled across Europe as a headliner, it is this time as the opening act for BEARTOOTH, also accompanied by POLARIS, that we will find LANDMVRKS on the roads of the old continent next October and November. See you on October 19 at the Bataclan.
PARTNER CONCERTS
IN CONCERT
BIRTHDAY
To celebrate 40 years of “Balls To The Wall” by ACCEPT, DIRKSCHNEIDER will tour in Europe in early 2025 with a single date in France.
HEALTH REPORT
It’s without Oz Fox that STRYPER will embark on his first American acoustic tour, “To Hell With The Amps”. Already operated on for 2 brain tumors 6 years ago, the guitarist returned to billiards. It is Will Doughty who will act as temporary workers. We wish good luck and a good recovery to OZ.
INTERVIEWS
Baptiste Labennea.k.a DarkagnanTalk about LIVID HARVEST who released his debut album, “Sent Empèri Gascon,” earlier this month.
Find all the interviews by clicking on this link.
LIVE REVIEWS
Click on the post to discover the concert report and the portfolio (if there is a portfolio).
Find all the concert reports by clicking here.
PORTFOLIOS
Click on the post to discover the photo gallery.
Find all the portfolios by clicking here.
MISCELLANEOUS
Fashion Week had better be well behaved: SLIPKNOT posted details of its spring-summer 2024 collection.
Quick digression Here is : May 4, Nita Strauss married her longtime fiancé and boyfriend, Josh Villalta, who plays drums in guitarist Alice Cooper’s solo band and also manages her. All our best wishes of happiness.
And always, for fans of musical discoveries: Noiseweek on HEAVY1 with “Orgy Of The Damned” by slash in album of the week and many new releases. (Podcast)
