TIM "RIPPER" OWENS GEARING UP TO RELEASE RETURN TO DEATH ROW EP; COVER ARTWORK REVEALED

 

Former Judas Priest vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens has been working on new music, produced by Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed) and Nick Bellmore (Jasta, Dee Snider), that will feature his heaviest songs yet. The collaboration has resulted in a new EP, Return To Death Row, due to be released in late October / early November under the Ripper moniker. Check out the cover artwork below.

OZZY OSBOURNE - PATIENT NUMBER 9

 

It’s 2022 and Ozzy has left the banalness of Ordinary Man and entered the asylum as Patient Number 9. Quite a stark contrast in presentation from his 2020 outing. It was a surprise to hear the Prince of Darkness was stepping down from his throne once again to record another album and fans were left wondering how he got it done considering the barrage of news stories depicting his ongoing health struggles. Patient Number 9 is an honest record that is capable of being great, but it’s bogged down by the same issues of its predecessor, but is has stronger songwriting and a better guest list which makes for a more cohesive listening experience.

No coincidence that the best tracks are the ones featuring Zakk Wylde and Tony Iommi. These guys get Ozzy and what he’s all about and their mere presence alone elevates the material they plan on. “No Escape From Now” takes the crown with vintage Iommi licks, a doomy atmosphere and then an up-tempo mid-section. It’s a classic Ozzy/Sabbath connection and composition. The Ozzman rekindles his “crazy” persona with the surprising twists and catchiness of “Mr. Darkness” and the jovial stomp of “Evil Shuffle” – each replete with sharp performances from Zakk. The title track and first single becomes better on repeated listens and has more depth musically being over 7 minutes long.



The Eric Clapton led (who’d ever think Clapton and Ozzy would work together?) “One Of Those Days” takes a more bluesy feel naturally with a nice blend of organs in the rhythm section. Can’t help but chuckle at the line “it’s one of those days I don’t believe in Jesus.” “Immortal” tries and mostly captures the spirit of the Diary Of Madman days while “Parasite” is bogged down by a modernized poppy chorus. The trippy “Nothing Feels Right” is an interesting addition to Ozzy’s work and sounds better in the context of the album rather than on its own. Symphonic elements present itself on the other Jeff Beck track “A Thousand Shades”. A nice song, but doesn’t like classic Ozzy.

METALLICA - PRO-SHOT VIDEO OF EIGHT SONG SET AT 2022 GLOBAL CITIZEN FESTIVAL STREAMING

 

On Saturday, May 24th, Metallica was one of the acts that performed at the Global Citizen Festival in New York City's Central Park. The band performed an eight song set featuring some of their most popular songs. Pro-shot video is available below (go to the 9:08:23 mark).

The setlist was as follows:



"Creeping Death"
"For Whom The Bell Tolls"
"Enter Sandman"
"Sad But True"
"The Unforgiven"
"Wherever I May Roam"
"Nothing Else Matters"
"Master Of Puppets"

BLIND GUARDIAN - THE GOD MACHINE

 

Over the course of pandemic live stream and pre-release singles, the vaunted Germans have left no doubt, there's still some high octane fuel in the tank, offering up more of the speedy/heavy material (at the expense of the middle-of-the-road/progressive leanings) that endeared them to us, in the first place.

"Deliver Us From Evil", one of the early teasers, leads off, recounting the events surrounding the infamous Salem Witch trials. While the initially (pleasant) shock (in intensity) has long since dissipated, it remains a rousing opener and announces "We're still capable of rocking out!" Thankfully, it is not a lone wolf. Witness, "Damnation" follow-up, another hammering number (apart from the melodic chorus): guitars chug like a runaway locomotive (individually, and in tandem), double bass drums are pummeled...what's not to like? Also available before street date, "Secrets Of The American Gods", with its synth undercurrent, was a bit of a head-scratcher (upon first hearing) not just stylistically, but also lyrically. Odd start and much more in the mid-tempo prog camp, why is the venerable Teutonic institution crowing about American politics? As with several others, there's religious imagery/presence within the words.



Back to the guitar dominance, on "Violent Shadows", albeit with yet more moral/religious imagery. Hansi Kursch briefly goes for a guttural, death growl, although most is delivered in his higher register. The shortest cut, at a mere 4:18. Ends with Kursch in full scream. A step into the ethereal, "Life Beyond The Spheres" is recognizable as Blind Guardian, but not the strong suit for which (older) fans clamor. Paradoxically, "Architects Of Doom" has a happy, power metal vein running throughout, but (apart from the chorus) is the most continuously speeding inclusion. Slower, ballad paced "Let It Be No More" sounds like it should appear at the end of the album. Almost a sing-along, swaying crowd in unison, mobile phones/lighters moment. Antithesis to the rest of the album: big orchestral/synthesizer crescendo builder that fails to deliver on its promise. "Blood Of The Elves" jumps right into rapid guitars/drums, another winner. The "Destiny" finale may lack the punch of the others, but is still a fist thrusting, moderate tempo head banger. Still would have flip-flopped, with "Let It be No More" in the running order, but I digress.

Abstracted (A NOVA FORÇA DO METAL PROGRESSIVO MUNDIAL)

O Death Metal surgiu no final dos anos 80,gozou sua melhor fase no começo dos anos 90,e depois passou por um declínio no meio da década, para voltar com força total no começo do novo milênio, eu poderia citar milhões de bandas de Death Metal .Quando o Death juntou a brutalidade com o progressivo, Muitos torceram o nariz ou viraram as costas ,mais a genialidade de CHUCK SCHULDINER foi além das barreiras de tocar com Qualidade, Fazia tempo que eu não ouvia uma banda que une o talento de seus músicos, brutalidade, agressividade e originalidade. Fico feliz em poder mostrar ao mundo A NOVA FORÇA DO METAL PROGRESSIVO MUNDIAL..


ALLEX MARTINS



"A Abstracted é uma banda de Progressive Death Metal/Technical Death Metal de São Paulo. Composta por Rosano Matiussi (Vocal), Artur Hermani (Guitarra), José Consani (Guitarra), Carol Claro (Teclados) Riverton Vilela (Baixo) e Fernando Pollon (Bateria), o sexteto busca mesclar a complexidade do Metal Progressivo com o peso do Death Metal.


As influências do grupo trazem referências à grandes bandas do Metal Moderno, como Between the Buried and Me, The Faceless e Opeth.


Com composições longas e diversificadas, a Abstracted lançou seu primeiro full lenghth, o álbum "Atma Conflux", em 15 de abril de 2022, sendo distribuído por todo o mundo, pelo selo americano "M-Theory", que conta em seu cast com grandes bandas do cenário, como o Mantic Ritual, Fueled by Fire e o The Absence.

A Abstracted está em processo de composição de seu novo álbum, bem como está trabalhando em dois novos videoclipes para a promoção do Atma Conflux"

https://www.instagram.com/abstractedbr/

http://www.smarturl.com/abstracted/

BEHEMOTH: CONFIRA O VIDEOCLIPE DO SINGLE “VERSVS CHRISTVS”

Nesta quarta-feira (16) a banda polonesa de Black/ Death Metal, Behemoth, lançou o videoclipe do single “Versvs Christvs”, no seu canal oficial do YouTube. O vídeo teve a direção de Agata Alexander.


A faixa faz parte do décimo segundo disco de estúdio, “Opvs Contra Natvram”, na última sexta-feira (16), em todas às plataformas de streaming, via Nuclear Blast Records.

“O título do álbum significa ir contra a corrente. É o negativo dos valores, da moral e da ética que eu me oponho. Eu tenho lutado seriamente com tendências destrutivas na cultura pop – cancelar cultura, mídia social e ferramentas que eu sinto que são armas muito perigosas nas mãos de pessoas que não são competentes para julgar os outros. Isso é algo que eu acho muito destrutivo e perturbador – e extremamente limitante vindo da perspectiva de um artista. Este é o meu dedo do meio para isso. Há uma música no disco chamada ‘Neo-Spartacvs’. Spartacus foi um dos rebeldes mais emblemáticos da história que enfrentou o império mais poderoso de todos os tempos. No final, sou eu gritando: ‘Eu sou Spartacus, e você também!’ Eu quero acender a chama da rebelião. Se algo parece errado, então enfrente!”

STEVE VAI - UNRELEASED 2016 EAT 'EM AND SMILE AUDIO INTERVIEW WITH VAN HALEN RISING AUTHOR GREG RENOFF STREAMING

 

Following is a new clip from The Tapes Archive:

"In this never before-heard 2016 interview, Steve Vai talks with author Greg Renoff about the landmark David Lee Roth album, Eat ‘Em and Smile. At the time, it was the 30th anniversary of the iconic album.



In the interview, Vai talks about the song he thought he wrote but didn’t, the jock that wasn’t happy with Vai, the rumored Kim Mitchell song, and the infamous Lucky Strike reunion show that didn't happen.