BLACK SWAN’s Debut Album “Shake the World” Out Now

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Black Swan, featuring Vocalist Robin McAuley (McAuley Schenker Group), guitarist Reb Beach (Winger, Whitesnake), bassist Jeff Pilson (Foreigner, The End Machine, ex-Dokken), and drummer Matt Starr (Ace Frehley, Mr. Big) have released their debut album Shake the World, today via Frontiers Music Srl.


The band has also released a new video for the track “Make it There.” Watch it HERE.


Stream and order the album HERE.


Black Swan‘s Shake the World is a killer slice of melodic hard rock and heavy metal from seasoned players who have gelled musically.


ALTER BRIDGE Announces Spring Headline Tour

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On the heels of their successful winter headline tour that wraps next week, ALTER BRIDGE are announcing a spring run that is set to kickoff this May. The next headline run will include select festival appearances as well as headline shows with special guests Black Stone Cherry and Saint Asonia. The tour kicks off on May 1st in Atlanta and wraps up on May 24th at Rocklahoma in Pryor, OK. The tour will make stops in Huntington, NY; Sayreville, NJ; New Orleans, LA and Houston, TX to name a few.

Artist presale begins Wednesday, February 19th from 10am – Thursday, February 20th 10pm local time and the public on sale is Friday, February 21st at 10AM local time. Previously announced festival appearances include Epicenter Festival in Charlotte, NC; Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, FL; Sonic Temple Festival in Columbus, OH and Rocklahoma in Pryor, OK. Ticket information for all shows can be found at https://alterbridge.com.

The new tour announcement comes on the heels of their recently released second single from Walk The Sky, “Godspeed.” The song has become a fast favorite amongst fans and critics alike and is currently moving up the charts at Active Rock radio. Written in memory of a friend of the band who passed away, “Godspeed” is an uplifting musical memorial for anyone who has lost someone. The lyric video for the song can be seen here.

ALTER BRIDGE recently released their latest album Walk The Sky (Napalm Records) to critical acclaim and career milestone chart success. The latest album brought the band comprised of Myles Kennedy on vocals/guitars, Mark Tremonti on guitars/vocals, Brian Marshall on bass and Scott Phillips their first ever #1 on Top Current Albums chart. The band’s newest release found a home at #1 on over a dozen charts around the globe including: Top Current Albums (US), Billboard Top Albums (US), Current Hard Music Albums (US), Current Rock Albums (US), Current Alternative Albums (US), Record Label Independent Current Albums (US), Record Label Independent Current Album Consumption (US), Internet Albums (US), Top Albums – Market Share – ADA (US), Top Albums with TEA (US), Hard Music (Canada), Top Hard Music Albums (Canada), 100 Independent Albums (UK), Rock & Metal Chart (UK), Top 100 Swiss Albums (Switzerland). Walk The Sky entered the official album Charts at #3 in Austria, Scotland and the Swedish Hard Rock Charts, at #4 in the UK and Canada at #5 in Germany, at #7 in Australia and #16 on the US Billboard 200.

Walk The Sky is produced by longtime collaborator Michael “Elvis” Baskette and is available in various configurations here.


Alter Bridge burst onto the music scene in 2004 with the release of their gold-selling debut, One Day Remains. In 2007, the band released Blackbird, the album that elevated the band’s profile worldwide. The epic solo in the title track “Blackbird” was voted “Greatest Guitar Solo Of All Time” by Guitarist Magazine. ABIII was released in 2010 and the single“Isolation” gave the band their first #1 single. In 2013, the band reached an elevated creative and critical plateau with Fortress. It bowed at #12 on the Billboard Top 200, moving over 30,000 copies first-week and earning unanimous tastemaker praise. The record garnered perfect scores from Total Guitar and KERRANG! as well as acclaim from Billboard, The Guardian, Loudwire, Ultimate Guitar, and many more. In between sold out tours in Europe and North America, the guys appeared on VH1 and graced the cover of Classic Rock Magazine who labeled Fortress, “The best thing they’ve ever done,” while Eddie Trunk called it, “A top 10 album of the last 10 years.” 2016’s The Last Hero gave the band their first Top 10 album since their debut. ALTER BRIDGE has appeared on The Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live and their music has been used by the WWE, Major League Baseball and NASCAR to name a few. The band recently released the video and audio of their career highlight, Live At The Royal Albert Hall, featuring ALTER BRIDGE backed by the 52-piece Parallax Orchestra led by conductor Simon Dobson. In December 2019, Guitar World magazine voted Mark Tremonti the Guitarist of the Decade and the latest album Walk The Sky ended up on numerous year end lists signifying ALTER BRIDGE are showing no signs of slowing down.

Walk The Sky Tour 2020

5-1 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle (No Saint Asonia)
5-2 – Charlotte, NC – Epicenter Festival (ALTER BRIDGE Only)
5-4 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore
5-6 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount
5-7 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
5-9 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome To Rockville
5-10 – Destin, FL – Club LA (ALTER BRIDGE Only)
5-12 – Louisville, KY – Palace Theatre
5-13 – Niagara Falls, NY – Rapids Theatre
5-15 – Rama, ON – Casino Rama
5-16 – Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple Festival
5-18 – New Orleans, LA – The Fillmore
5-20 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
5-21 – Corpus Christi, TX – Concrete Street Pavilion
5-23 – Herrin, IL – Herrinfesta Italiana (ALTER BRIDGE Only)
5-24 – Pryor, OK – Rocklahoma (ALTER BRIDGE Only)

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED
2-18 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
2-20 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
2-21 – Lake Tahoe, NV – Montbleu Resort
2-23 – San Francisco, CA – The Regency Ballroom
2-24 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
2-26 – Seattle, WA – Moore Theatre
2-27 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory

NIGHTWISH Release First Single “Noise”

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When Finnish sextet NIGHTWISH announce a new studio album people tend to take notice. They know that something special is brewing. The band’s new and ninth record HUMAN. :II: NATURE. will be released on 10th April 2020 and will be a double album containing 9 tracks on the main CD and one long track, divided into eight chapters on CD 2.

The band releases the first single and video clip for the song “Noise”. Watch the video here.

Order the song digitally here. Pre-save here and listen at “This is Nightwish-Playlist” here.

The album will be available as: 2CD, 2CD-Digi, 3LP (different colours), Earbook, Boxset, and Digital. You can pre-order all formats and check new merchandise here.

HUMAN. :II: NATURE Track List:
Disc 1:
01. Music
02. Noise
03. Shoemaker
04. Harvest
05. Pan
06. How’s The Heart?
07. Procession
08. Tribal
09. Endlessness

Disc 2:
01. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World – Vista
02. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World – The Blue
03. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World – The Green
04. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World – Moors
05. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World – Aurorae
06. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World – Quiet As The Snow
07. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World – Anthropocene (incl. “Hurrian Hymn To Nikkal”)
08. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World – Ad Astra

HUMAN. :II: NATURE. was recorded from August to October 2019 at Röskö campsite, Petrax Studios and Troykington castle, as well as Finnvox Studios, by Tero Kinnunen, Mikko Karmila and Troy Donockley. The mixing was done by Mikko Karmila at Finnvox, with Tuomas Holopainen and Tero Kinnunen. Mastering was done by Mika Jussila at Finnvox.

NIGHTWISH Live 2020:
15.04. RC – Guangzhou, CN – Gym-II
17.-18.04. RC – Shanghai, CN – Bandai Namco Base
20.04. RC – Beijing – Exhibition Theater

with MARKO HIETALA
05.05. RCH – Santiago – Teatro Caupolicán
rk (with BOUDIKA)
09.05. BR – São Paulo – Espaço das Américas
10.05. BR – Rio de Janeiro – Vivo Rio

with BEAST IN BLACK
26.05. RUS – St. Petersburg – A2 Green Concert
27.05. RUS – Moscow – Crocus City Hall
29.05. UA – Kiev – Stereo Plaza
31.05. BY – Minsk – Falcon Club

04.06. S – Sölvesborg – Sweden Rock Festival
05. – 07.06. FIN       Tampere – Rockfest
11.06. PL – Kraków – Mystic Festival
12./13.06. CH – Interlaken – Greenfield Festival
30.06. F – Nîmes – Festival de Nîmes
02. – 04.07. E – Barcelona – Rock Fest
09. – 12.07. CZ – Vizovice – Masters of Rock
16. – 19.07. D – Cuxhaven – Deichbrand Festival
30.07. – 01.08. FIN – Kuopio – Kuopiorock

NIGHTWISH EUROPEAN TOUR 2020
16.11. N – Oslo – Spektrum
20.11. D – Leipzig – Arena
21.11. D – Dusseldorf – ISS Dome
23.11. NL – Amsterdam – Ziggo Dome (sold out)
24.11. NL – Amsterdam – Ziggo Dome (sold out)
25.11. F – Paris – AccorHotels Arena
26.11. B – Antwerp – Lotto Arena
28.11. D – Stuttgart – Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle
29.11. LUX – Luxembourg – Rockhal
03.12. I – Milan – Lorenzini District
04.12. D – Munich – Olympiahalle
07.12. HU – Budapest – Arena
09.12. D – Bamberg – Brose Arena
10.12. D – Frankfurt – Festhalle
12.12. A – Vienna – Stadthalle
14.12. D – Berlin – Max-Schmeling-Halle
16.12. UK – Cardiff – Motorpoint Arena
18.12. UK – London – SSE Arena Wembley
via Contra Promotion

MICHAEL ALAGO Opens Up About Changing the Landscape of Metal, Battling Addiction and Beating Death

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Music industry veteran Michael Alago can be credited with changing the landscape of heavy metal – and rock ‘n’ roll as a whole – yet his name remains relatively unknown.


In his new autobiography, I am Michael Alago, available March 2 via Backbeat Books, Alago shares his successes in the music industry, such as signing Metallica to their first major label recording contract, while battling 1970s and ‘80s stereotypes, addiction and life-threatening illness.


“Michael Alago was my first genuine connection to the real world of music,” says bassist Jason Newsted. “He is a key player and lynchpin in the early careers of Flotsam and Jetsam, and Metallica, and more importantly; a greatly respected lifelong friend, loved and admired by the people that make up these legendary acts. He’s a fan. We’re all fans.”


Alago grew up in Brooklyn, in a large, spirited, and devoted Puerto Rican family. Through his early passion for music, art, theater, and photography, he soon found himself rubbing elbows with many downtown NYC scene makers, from Stiv Bators to Jean Michel Basquiat, Cherry Vanilla and Wayne County to Deborah Harry and Robert Mapplethorpe. As an underage teenager going to Max’s Kansas City, CBGB and various art galleries, Alago also began running The Dead Boys’ fan club.


A few years later, Alago became the assistant music director for legendary nightclubs the Ritz and the Red Parrot. “I met Michael in 1980,” says Jerry Brandt of The Electric Circus/The Ritz. “He walked into my office at The Ritz and I knew instantly that his kid was going to do great things.”


At age 24, he began a storied career as an A&R executive at Elektra Records that started with signing Metallica in the summer of 1984, changing the entire landscape of rock ‘n’ roll and heavy metal. Alago continued to work in A&R for both Palm Pictures and Geffen Records. He was thrilled to executive-produce albums by Cyndi Lauper, Public Image Ltd, White Zombie, and Nina Simone.


“With his gifted passion and open-minded appreciation for music, Michael Alago changed the world and the lives of millions (myself included) forever,” says Orange is the New Black actor and Alekhine’s Gun vocalist Jessica Pimentel. “I am constantly inspired by him and thank him for sharing his rich life with us: the good, the bad, the ugly, the sacred and the magical.”


In the late 1980s, Alago was diagnosed with HIV, which manifested into full-blown AIDS 10 years later, a diagnosis that equaled death at that time. But with the advancement of medical science and the foresight of a brilliant doctor, he survived and continued his music career. In 2005, he left music to pursue his other love: photography. Alago went on to publish three bestselling books: Rough Gods, Brutal Truth and Beautiful Imperfections with German-based publisher Bruno Gmünder.


Alago has also since overcome his longtime addiction to drugs and alcohol. In his clean and sober life, he has reconnected with his family, continues to be a working photographer as well as record producer, and only through the grace of his 12-Step program is he able to live this big, beautiful life. Who the Fuck Is That Guy? The Fabulous Journey of Michael Alago, a 2017 documentary directed by Drew Stone and produced by Michael Alex on Alago’s wildly successful career in music, was released in theaters and on Netflix, where it is now in its third year. The film is also now available on Amazon Prime Video.


“A true Hollywood tale of how a gay Puerto Rican man in a heavy metal world can become a conqueror!” says Gary Holt, guitarist for Exodus and Slayer. “From running wild in the streets of NYC as younger men to still being close to this day, Michael is a legend in the world of hard rock. The heavy metal landscape would look much different if it weren’t for him. We owe him a debt of gratitude for his foresight in music and I am thankful for his contributions and even more so, his friendship.”


Michael Alago is the quintessential New Yorker with an “only in New York” career. Passionate about music, art, and literature, legendary music executive and published photographer, Alago is known for his extraordinary work with Metallica, White Zombie, John Lydon, Cyndi Lauper and Nina Simone.


“I’ve known Michael forever, and he is fabulous,” says music business veteran Danny Fields. “So this book is fabulous! Would I ever lie?”


I am Michael Alago was co-written with Laura Davis-Chanin. I am Michael Alago is available in paperback for pre-order from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, IndieBound and Rowman & Littlefield.


A release party for I Am Michael Alago will be held Friday, March 6 at The Map Room at The Bowery Electric. Alago will read and sign copies of the book from 7–10 p.m. Register here for Alago’s only New York City appearance.

BOWLING FOR SOUP Gives Us Our Moment Of Bliss

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Wrestling and rock music have been intertwined throughout the years to great success. Now the Grammy nominated legendary pop punk band Bowling For Soup have teamed up with one of WWE‘s biggest stars to bring you the next chapter of the two worlds colliding with a fantastically catchy new single.

A couple of years ago, WWE Superstar and then Raw Women’s champion, “The Goddess” Alexa Bliss revealed in an interview that Bowling For Soup were her favourite band. This led to her striking up a friendship with Bowling For Soup frontman Jaret Reddick, with Alexa and the band regularly swapping social media posts and Jaret being invited as Alexa‘s guest to the 2018 Royal Rumble Pay Per View. Last year Bowling For Soup returned the favour, with Alexa being invited on stage at a Spring 2019 Bowling For Soup show.

Fast forward to Autumn 2019 and Bowling For Soup were in the studio, crafting riffs and melodies for their next single. The idea for what, or more importantly who, that single should be about came naturally – Alexa Bliss! With a main riff thats perhaps the heaviest in the history of Bowling For Soup, combined with frenetic verses, a chorus bigger than their home state of Texas and more references to Alexa Bliss and WWE than an episode of Smackdown, this is a song that will thrill fans of BFS, WWE and beyond. The video for the single, which partly pays homage to the 1980’s movie Weird Science and stars none other than Little Miss Bliss herself.

The track is also available to stream or download on Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Music.

What does Alexa Bliss think about having her very own song written for her by her favourite band?: “This song is amazing 🙂 filming the video was such a great time I had a blast. It’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity when your favorite band in the world makes a song about you. And Jaret is always so fun to work with and be around :-)”

Meanwhile, Bowling For Soup main man Jaret Reddick has been equally as enthusiastic about working with Alexa: “Meeting Alexa Bliss was insane! Here is the freakin’ WWE Womens champ, and she likes our band! I’ll admit, I checked her socials after we met the first time and saw that she had worn our shirt in a photo, and tweeted about listening to us in class while still in Ohio haha…We became fast friends. She has been such a pleasure to get to know and has been so awesome to me and my family…why WOULDN’T I write a song about her?!? ”Five feet of amazing!!!”

LAMB OF GOD Tell The World It’s “Checkmate”

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LAMB OF GOD has revealed a brand new single and video, “Checkmate,” from the band’s first release in five years and the first to feature new drummer Art Cruz. The self-titled Lamb Of God is due out May 8 via Epic Records.


Watch “Checkmate” now at http://lamb-of-god.com.


“‘Checkmate’ brings together all the components of the LAMB OF GOD sound that we’ve been developing over the last two decades, but with the ambition and ferocity that comes with the start of a new chapter for our band,” says guitarist Mark Morton. “Re-energized and reignited, this is LAMB OF GOD 2020. We’ve never been more excited.”


The fact that the band’s eighth studio effort would warrant ‘self-titled’ status is a testament to the band’s pride and satisfaction with these songs and this period in their creativity.


“Putting only our name on it is a statement,” Blythe says. “This is LAMB OF GOD. Here and now.” 


A true collaboration between all members of the band, LAMB OF GOD’s eighth studio album is an amalgam of each individual’s contributions, blended to create a singular style. Guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler fuel the album with a mountain of riffs, taking what Lamb of God are known for, and unbelievably, upping the ante to new levels. The rhythm section of John Campbell, looming large as a rhythmic shadow, and drummer Art Cruz, who makes his studio debut with LAMB OF GOD here on this record, underpin the proceedings with passion, sweat and expansive dynamics. Vocalist D. Randall Blythe is as angry, insightful, and informed as ever. Never one to shrink from facing the darker aspects of our nature head-on, Blythe delivers with no punches pulled, and as only he and Lamb of God can in 2020.


In celebration of the release of “Checkmate” and the announce of the new album, LAMB OF GOD will appear at a special show at the House of Vans in Chicago on February 14. The event is free and fans can RSVP at HouseOfVans.com The event will include a photography exhibit featuring photos from D. Randall Blythe that will be included in the new LAMB OF GOD album artwork. Harm’s Way will open the show.


In the midst of writing the ten songs that appear on Lamb Of God, the group hit pause on the works-in-progress to man the stage as main support Slayer’s “The Final Campaign.” After months of playing their best-known songs nightly, LAMB OF GOD returned to the new tracks and began to work with longtime producer Josh Wilbur (Korn, Megadeth, Gojira, Trivium). Special guests Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed) and Chuck Billy (Testament) also make appearances on Lamb Of God.


Lamb Of God pre-orders are available HERE.



Lamb Of God Track List:
1. Memento Mori
2. Checkmate
3. Gears
4. Reality Bath
5. New Colossal Hate
6. Resurrection Man
7. Poison Dream (feat. Jamey Jasta)
8. Routes (feat. Chuck Billy)
9. Bloodshot Eyes
10. On The Hook


The Richmond, Virginia, quintet propelled heavy metal into the new millennium two decades ago with the prophetically titled New American Gospel. They followed with 2003’s As the Palaces Burn, which made the Rolling Stone list of the Top 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time. Ashes of the Wake, released in 2004, was the first LAMB OF GOLD album to be certified gold by the RIAA, as was 2006’s Sacrament, which also made a Top 10 Billboard 200 chart debut. In 2009, LAMB OF GOD released Wrath, their first with Wilbur at producer, and earned the number one album spot on Billboard’s Hard Rock, Rock, and Tastemaker charts, with a number two position on the Billboard 200.


Those number one positions were repeated with 2012’s Resolution, which swung effortlessly between thrash, traditional metal, sludgy doom, with flashes of crust punk swagger and bravado. LAMB OF GOD’s last album, VII: Sturm und Drang (2015) made its debut on the Billboard 200 at number three and finished number 2 in the world charts, reaching Top 5 in five countries and six addition Top 15 positions.


In 2020, LAMB OF GOD is re-energized and unrelenting, ready to lay claim to the metal throne.


HER CHARIOT AWAITS Announce Debut Album

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Her Chariot Awaits is a newly formed hard rock/metal group featuring the highly regarded Spanish vocalist Ailyn (ex-Sirenia) and the awesome American guitarist and producer Mike Orlando (Adrenaline Mob). The band’s self-titled debut will be released on April 10, 2020 via Frontiers Music Srl. Today, the band has released their first single and music video, “Dead & Gone”. Watch the video HERE.


Stream the single and pre-order physical or digital copies of the album HERE.


Of first single “Dead & Gone”, Ailyn says “‘Dead & Gone’ tells as story in the first person of how it feels to have been neglected and abandoned by somebody, in this case a biological father. It’s about the words the character, a woman, wants to express to make him realize how he made her feel, and in a way put an end to that story in her life and be able to move on.”


On the writing of the song, Mike says, “The song came together musically starting with the verse guitar parts and the heavy bridge/solo section. From that point everything fell into place as I wanted the chorus to drop more into a slower half time groove. Lyrically, it started as somewhat of a letter from my girlfriend Dana regarding her biological father. I then turned the basis of what she was trying to say into a more streamlined story and added a chorus and some key sections. A true story brought to life in a song and a powerful message that Ailyn delivered wonderfully.”


Continues Orlando, “We had a great time shooting the video over the course of a few days. It takes place in multiple locations, which included an old Victorian style home and a beautiful modern farmhouse style home owned by my dear friend Nancy. Ailyn plays the part of a daughter who feels neglected and abandoned by her father. The video ends up outside with the band performing around a raging fire pit in an attempt to rid herself of all the memories and pain and move on. The final moment being encompassed by her tossing dirt on the flame, putting an end to the story and walking away.”


This exciting new musical alliance came about through the vision of Frontiers, who put the two artists – each eager to create a new and exciting project – in touch. The pair gelled extremely well, creating an album that offers songs that will excite all lovers of technical, aggressive, modern and extremely catchy heavy music. Melting the well defined metal approach of Adrenaline Mob with more melodic hooks, Her Chariot Awaits showcases the incredible vocal talents of Ailyn. Here, she moves in a heavier and more straight ahead direction compared to her previous band.


“After a two year break from the scene, I am pleased to announce my new collaboration with Mike Orlando on Her Chariot Awaits. I’m very honoured and thankful to be part of it. I’m looking forward to everyone learning about this new adventure, which allowed me to experiment and explore a new side to my singing, working together with a great musician. Her Chariot Awaits is a new step forward in my music career and I can’t wait to share the beginning of this journey with all of you,” enthuses Ailyn.


Orlando adds that “It was a pleasure to write and perform an album with a singer like Ailyn with music that is geared more towards the commercial side of rock. Ailyn has a beautiful voice and was great to work with in and out of the studio, as was Jeff Thal on drums! I’m very happy with how the album is coming out. It’s a great collection of hard hitting yet melodic commercial rock tracks, which I hope you will all enjoy.”



Her Chariot Awaits Track List:
1.  Misery
2.  Dead & Gone
3.  Screaming Misfire
4.  Stolen Heart
5.  Constant Craving
6.  Say No
7.  Line Of Fire
8.  Turning The Page
9.  Take Me Higher
10. Just Remember
11. Forgive Me Dear



 

Help OBITUARY Save the Animals Affected by the Australian Bushfires

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Want to join Obituary and help rescue, save and rehabilitate animals that were injured and displaced by the Australian bushfires? We are raising money to benefit NSW WILDLIFE INFORMATION RESCUE AND EDUCATION SERVICE INCORPORATED, and any donation will help make an impact.


Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to us. More information about NSW WILDLIFE INFORMATION RESCUE AND EDUCATION SERVICE INCORPORATED: WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service) mission is to actively rehabilitate and preserve Australian wildlife and inspire others to do the same. WIRES has over 2500 volunteers and a Rescue Office that operates 365 days a year assisting the community to help native animals in distress. WIRES assists tens of thousands of animals every year and last financial year received over 95,000 requests for rescue assistance.


Donate now HERE.


Obituary will be on tour with Black Label Society this Spring. Get a full list out dates HERE.


MASTER BOOT RECORD Reveals Details for New Album “FLOPPY DISK OVERDRIVE”

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On March 20th, MASTER BOOT RECORD will release his Metal Blade Records debut, FLOPPY DISK OVERDRIVE.

There are few truly unique musical artists, but the music made by MBR arguably exists in a category of its own. “The main elements include chiptune, demoscene & video game music, thrash/death metal and some black metal as well as classical and symphonic patterns and progressive structures,” explains sole progenitor and mastermind MBR. “But everything is programmed and done with synthesizers.” The result, influenced as much by classical baroque music, bay area thrash metal, and Commodore 64 games, is a frenzied mashup of what logic suggests should be disparate sounds, but in the hands of MBR make sense, taking the listener in unexpected and always thrilling directions, smashing through genre walls.

FLOPPY DISK OVERDRIVE Track List
1. ANSI.SYS
2. EDIT.COM
3. FDISK.EXE
4. DISPLAY.SYS
5. CHKDSK.EXE
6. DEFRAG.EXE
7. RAMDRIVE.SYS
8. DBLSPACE.EXE
9. SMARTDRV.EXE
10. DISKCOPY.COM
11. EMM386.EXE
12. HIMEM.SYS

FLOPPY DISK OVERDRIVE sees MBR sound evolve again, embracing all of the elements fans have come to expect from the project, but taking a step forward. MBR comments: “This album has got some new elements such as the synthesized clean guitars sounds which adds that early thrash metal feel – as well as some baroque atmosphere – but the album still features my trademark sound mixing chiptune, classical and metal music.” Remaining prolific – and 100% synthetic – MBR works with an audience. “I have a very fast workflow due to the fact everything is MIDI. Also, most of the time, I stream live while composing. A good amount of my stuff after the second album until now has been composed live, as well as many of the cover songs. I stream my DAW desktop while chatting on my IRC. Also I handle every aspect of making the record, including the artwork.”

Having previously been involved in multiple projects – most of which were focused on mixing metal and electronic music – he first began working on what would become MBR four years ago. “It was around April 2016 when I started to work on the point & click adventure Virtuaverse, a video game I am doing with my friends Valenberg and Elder0010. While writing that soundtrack, I tried some heavier sounds and especially this floppy disk drive sounding guitar sound, and that’s how MBR first originated.” Prolifically creative, once he had all of these elements in place, he would go on to release four albums in three weeks, dropping them on Bandcamp on the fly, at the same time churning out cover versions of themes from video games he loved growing up. In the three years since, seven more albums followed, each one building on the last, forever refining the MBR sound. The project’s name was inspired by the title of its first release. “I stumbled on a command line text that is on the cover art of my first album ‘FIXMBR.’ and at a point it says, ‘Are you sure you want to write a new MBR?’ And pretty much that was how I felt at that moment. I needed to restart from scratch for a new project with a new sound.”

MBR will be touring FLOPPY DISK OVERDRIVE, adding a live drummer and guitarist to play alongside the electronic elements. The Italy-based unit will be hitting Europe and North America not long after the album drops.

https://youtu.be/iJtVDEx2HSk

DON JAMIESON Reveals Details for New Album “Denim & Laughter”

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On February 21st, rock & roll comedian Don Jamieson will release his new album, Denim & Laughter, via Metal Blade Records. Former ‘That Metal Show’ host Jamieson comments: “This album was recorded in front of about 40 hardcore fans in a speakeasy in a secret location in Los Angeles on October 19, 2019. Now the rest of you can enjoy it! I’ve recorded my stand-up albums in comedy clubs, rock clubs and now an illegal club. Comedy is way more fun when you’re at the risk of being raided at any moment! Special thanks to one of my favorite all-time bands, Saxon, for letting me do the comedic version of their classic album ‘Denim & Leather‘. And I can’t wait to tour the U.K. and Europe with their singer, Biff Byford. They follow in a prestigious line of my album cover band parodies…Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest, Led Zeppelin. But of course, the album is not just for rockers, but for all people who like humor with a rock and roll attitude. Comedy is like rock and roll…it’s no fun if it’s not dangerous. And being a comedian on Metal Blade Records makes the whole package complete.”

Denim & Laughter Track List
1. Drinking Buddy, Hipster Jizz & Gluten-Free Keith Richards
2. Miserable Sober, Booze Rehab & Liquid Cocaine
3. Chevy Sativa, a Yankee Candle & Stonehenge
4. The Greatest Country, Wife-Beaters & Aliens
5. Tea Tree Shampoo & Adam Levine’s Nipples
6. That Metal Show, Hi-Def Porn & P.C. Bands
7. Alice & Ozzy, Zakk Wylde & Buzztightrear
8. Black Sabbath, Gwar, & a Bloody Good Flight
9. Stone Cold, a Sporty Ford Fusion, Rock out with Your C*ck Out
10. Roast on the Range, She’s Only 17
11. Billy Ray, Little League, Prison Time
12. Mounting Mary, Serial Killers, Death by Bus
13. Gorilla Sex, Spitting, Banana Tits
14. Gender Fluid, D.N.A. Test, Anal Fetish
15. Fake News & the Return of the Sporty Ford Fusion

In support of this record, Jamieson will be performing on the Monsters of Rock Cruise set to sail Feb. 8-13 before hitting the road in the UK and Europe this spring with Biff Byford. Each show will take an “evening with” format and will be split into two halves. The first half will be a comedy set by Jamieson, who will quiz Biff on all aspects of his life and his legendary career. The second half will be a live show featuring Biff and his solo band. As Biff explains: “The show will consist of some old songs, some new songs, some cover versions and some songs off the solo album.”

Don Jamieson Live:
Feb. 8-13 – Monsters of Rock Cruise

“School of Hard Knocks” Tour Dates – Comedy & Live Music Show with Biff Byford & Don Jamieson
Apr. 17 – Gateshead Sage 2 – Gateshead, UK
Apr. 18 – Birmingham Town Hall – Birmingham, UK
Apr. 20 – Glasgow St Lukes – Glasgow, UK
Apr. 21 – Leeds City Varieties – Leeds, UK
Apr. 22 – Bath Komedia – Bath, UK
Apr. 24 – Liverpool Arts Club – Liverpool, UK
Apr. 25 – Aberdare Coliseum Theatre – Aberdare, UK
Apr. 27 – Milton Keynes Stables – Milton Keynes, UK
Apr. 28 – London Islington Assembly Hall – London, UK
Apr. 29 – Brighton Old Market – Brighton, UK
May 1 – 013 – Tilburg, The Netherlands
May 2 – Turock – Essen, Germany
May 3 – The Casino – Sint Niklaas, Belgium
May 5 – Gruenspan – Hamburg, Germany
May 6 – Rosenhof – Osnabruck, Germany
May 8 – Kulturbolaget – Malmo, Sweden
May 9 – N3 Stagebox – Trollhattan, Sweden
May 10 – Nalen – Stockholm, Sweden
May 12 – Passionkirche – Berlin, Germany
May 13 – Technikum – Munich, Germany
May 14 – Dynamo – Zurich, Switzerland
May 15 – Le Forum – Vaureal, France

Check out Jamieson‘s new project, ‘That Jamieson Show’ on https://www.compoundmedia.com/, where he interviews rockers and comedians. Jamieson‘s stand-up act is his take on everyday life, with a heavy dose of sarcasm. Amongst his many accomplishments, his Metal Blade Records stand-up albums – Live & Hilarious, Hell Bent For Laughter, Communication Breakdown – all debuted on the Billboard comedy charts. Jamieson also became an “Emmy Award-Winner” for his work on HBO’s ‘Inside The NFL’, where he and long-time comedy partner, Jim Florentine, wrote, produced and performed sports-themed comedy sketches.