Live stream interview with Bryan Richie of The Sword, talking about the upcoming tour in 2020 with Primus and Wolfmother (that hopefully will still happen), Conquest Of Kingdoms and recordings all the way back from 2005 being available now, homeschooling in isolation, and more. Click below to hear “Freya” live at Stubbs in 2011, coming on the upcoming Conquest Of Kingdoms.
Live Stream Interview With The Sword (Bryan Richie)
The Sword is an American heavy metal band from Austin, Texas. Formed in 2003, the band is currently composed of vocalist and guitarist John D. Cronise, guitarist Kyle Shutt, bassist Bryan Richie and drummer Santiago “Jimmy” Vela III.
ALESTORM has just released their second single, “Tortuga”, off the upcoming album Curse of the Crystal Coconut – out on May 29 via Napalm Records. Live the devious buccaneer’s life with ALESTORM as they deliver their smashing homage to the most notorious pirate capital of the world. Exploring both electronic and even rap influences doused in the signature ALESTORM flavor – you’ve surely never heard a pirate’s shanty quite like this before!
The accompanying audiovisual has it all: palm trees swaying in the Caribbean breeze, the sunshine beaming down… and with Captain Christopher Bowes stealing rum, the British Crown is on the hunt – a manhunt to be exact! Captain Bowes is joined by the legendary pirate Captain Yarrface of RUMAHOY, and together, they finally emerge victorious and celebrate that by… well, see for yourself! Watch the official video below!
ALESTORM on the new video:
“Oh wow! Chris from Alestorm here. We’re really excited to release our new vi- IT’S ME, CAPTAIN YARRFACE! GET OUT OF MY WAY LITTLE BOY BOWES! THIS SONG IS TERRIBLE EXCEPT FOR THE BIT WHERE I SING! I’M THE GREATEST PIRATE IN THE WHOLE WORLD! WELCOME TO THE SEA!”
The “Pirate Metal Drinking Crew” is back to show all the filthy landlubbers what they’re made of. ALESTORM’s sixth long-player, Curse of the Crystal Coconut, will be released on May 29, 2020 via Napalm Records! Eleven tracks presented in ALESTORM’s signature unadulterated, chaotic fashion will pull the rug out from under your feet. Adding to that are guest performances from musical greats like Ally Storch of SUBWAY TO SALLY (violin on the entire album) and Captain Yarrface of RUMAHOY!
A must-have, riff-laden anthem at any party, “Treasure Chest Party Quest” takes the listener onto a journey into the depths of the darkest taverns of “Tortuga” and Christopher Bowes’ unique sense of humor. The smashing, lively track “Chomp Chomp”, featuring vocals of Vreth of FINNTROLL, may make you never want to enter the open waters again, but will definitely entice you to dance along with its addictive melodies. “Pirate Metal Drinking Crew” is yet another foot-stomping anthem on the album that excels with a catchy rhythm and indelible hook. Be careful to not anger the great pirate Scurvy, or he might just unleash the Curse Of The Crystal Coconut with the brutal riffs of the “Pirate’s Scorn” upon you.
Whether the album makes you want to grab a fresh coconut and sip it or open up a nice bottle of beer – it will definitely lead to a wild piratical escapade. For the extra-adventurous pirates amongst you, ALESTORM will release a 2-CD Mediabook with ground-breaking 16th century interpretations of the songs. Be sure to get yours.
Pre-Order Curse of the Crystal Coconut NOW and automatically enter the giveaway for an ALESTORM-branded N64!
LAMB OF GOD have unleashed another track from their forthcoming self-titled album (now due June 19 via Epic Records) in the form of “New Colossal Hate” – a song which finds the band at the height of their formidable powers – unrelenting, unstoppable, and as always, setting the standard for aggressive modern music.
Where now-classic LAMB OF GOD slabs As the Palaces Burn (2003) and Ashes of the Wake (2004) zoomed in on specific issues, Lamb Of God (2020) takes a broader view, calling attention to and laying out an argument against intolerance, apathy and injustice, both in the United States and abroad.
The album tackles a broad range of issues, including the opioid crisis (“On the Hook”), school shootings (“Reality Bath”), and vocalist/lyricist D. Randall Blythe’s time protesting alongside native peoples at Standing Rock (“Routes”).
“New Colossal Hate,” which hits all digital and streaming services as a single and lyric video today – watch now at www.lamb-of-god.com – digs into the exploitative rhetoric and persistent “othering” of marginalized people that continues to divide.
Guitarist Willie Adler speaking on the composition of the song:
“’New Colossal Hate’ came out of our very first writing session in Maine. Mark, our producer Josh Wilbur and I were at a super cool studio in South Windham called Halo. An absolutely beautiful spot run by some of the best people I’ve ever met. I’m pretty sure ‘New Colossal Hate’ grew from a few different demos I had. You know, like parts of car. However, as it started to take shape, it quickly became my favorite song on the record. Please enjoy this banger of a tune. It holds a very special place in my heart.”
“New Colossal Hate” follows the official music video for “Memento Mori,” which has been viewed more than 3.5 million times since its late March debut. Executed from a narrative treatment written by Blythe, “Memento Mori” features a blistering performance from guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, drummer Art Cruz, and Blythe, juxtaposed against a grim storyline costarring Sinisteria, a dark performance troupe led by fellow Richmond, Virginia, natives Sabrina Elliotte and Gwooki.
Audiences got a taste of the first new LAMB OF GOD music in nearly five years with “Checkmate” back in February. All three songs will appear on Lamb Of God, the follow-up to VII: Sturm und Drang (2015). The album was once again produced by collaborator Josh Wilbur (Gojira, Korn, Megadeth, Trivium), fueled by a mountain of riffs and looming rhythmic shadows. It’s also the band’s first record with Cruz, who sat behind the kit with LAMB OF GOD in 2018 and became an official member the following year.
LAMB OF GOD 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 (2004) was the first LAMB OF GOD album to be certified gold by the RIAA, followed by Sacrament (2006), which debuted in Billboard’s Top 10. Wrath (2009) earned the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hard Rock, Rock, and Tastemaker charts and was No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Those No. 1 positions were repeated with Resolution (2012). VII: Sturm und Drang (2015) debuted at No. 3 in North America and in the Top 5 in several countries. The single “512” from VII: Sturm und Drang received a Grammy nod for the “Best Metal Performance,” making it LAMB OF GOD’s fifth Grammy nomination.
The new album features guest appearances from Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed) and Chuck Billy (Testament). Blythe sounds more driven and insightful than ever on Lamb Of God, offering up the angriest and most comprehensive diatribes, addressing modern life in the current landscape, of his storied career thus far.
The Podcast That Rocked episode for April 22, 2020 featuring Geaux Gretchen. Discussion on Lamb Of God’s delay and other potential album delays, COVID-19 affecting tours going forward, new music from The Used, Trivium, and AWOLNATION, top three mainstream rock songs, and more. Click below for discussion topics and links to music and videos discussed.
COVID-19 Ruined Live Music | TPTR
The Podcast That Rocked on Spotify
Discussion Topics: -Top 3 Billboard mainstream rock songs -Tragedy for Falling In Reverse -Lamb Of God album delay -American Airlines was awful last year -Knotfest Japan -Explosions In The Sky 20th Anniversary in Iceland is cancelled and I’m heartbroken -Opinion on new albums from Trivium, The Used, and AWOLNATION -Trapt is still being Trapt -Quick recap on the Puddle Of Mudd cover nightmare
As the world continues to battle the recent Covid-19 outbreak, recent changes across the United States and its impact on communities are causing ALTER BRIDGE to postpone their upcoming headline tour with special guests Black Stone Cherry and Saint Asonia.
ALTER BRIDGE explains:
“To the entire Alter Bridge family:
We hoped that it wouldn’t come to this, but as some of you have already heard; unfortunately, due to recent changes around the globe created by the recent Covid-19 situation, the May headline tour of the United States with Black Stone Cherry and Saint Asonia will be postponed. The health and safety of everyone attached to these shows (fans, artists, crew members, venue staff, etc) is our main priority. More information regarding rescheduled dates will be available in the future. We look forward to the time when we can all come together and celebrate music as the community and family we are. Until then, Stay Home, Stay Healthy and Stay Safe…”
In an effort to show support to everyone being affected by the global pandemic, Myles Kennedy recently performed acoustic in partnership with American Songwriter for their Behind The Mic series. Aside from discussing songwriting and his musical inspirations in front of a live global audience on Facebook, Myles performed songs from various projects including ALTER BRIDGE, Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, and from his critically acclaimed debut solo album from 2018.
The live event has been viewed over 470K times on Facebook and is now live on YouTube 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 their latest album Walk The Sky ended up on numerous year end lists signifying ALTER BRIDGE are showing no signs of slowing down.
Metalcore band The Ghost Inside will release their fifth studio album on June 5 via Epitaph Records. The self-titled album arrives as the follow-up to the band’s 2014 release Dear Youth, which debuted #63 on the Billboard 200, and will be the first release since their tragic bus accident in 2015. The road to recovery has been extensive both mentally and physically but all things considered, they’ve shown a positive and inspiring attitude through the entire process of recovery. They will not stop fighting to do what they love and are excited to return.
Today, the band shares the first single off the forthcoming record “Aftermath.” According to bassist Jim Riley, “We went into the writing process knowing full well that every song and every lyric would be influenced by what we’ve been through, but we tried our best for them to be relatable to everyone. With Aftermath we let it be much more personal – this one is us telling OUR story. So when it was time to choose a first song to share with the world, it felt right for it to be Aftermath. It allows anyone that listens into our world, but it also lets us put final punctuation on that chapter of our lives. Aftermath is a total catharsis for us. We let it all out in the song so that it’s not bottled up inside us anymore and we can heal and move on, since after all, the beat goes on.”
Created with producer Will Putney (Every Time I Die, The Amity Affliction, Knocked Loose) and longtime friend/collaborator Jeremy McKinnon of A Day To Remember, The Ghost Inside is 11 songs of determination, deep resolve, reflection, and newfound hope.
The band had worked on material for their fifth album prior to the accident that claimed the lives of their driver, the lives of everyone in the other vehicle, and resulted in multiple injuries for all of the band members. Jonathan Vigil (vocals) suffered from a fractured back, ligament damage, and two broken ankles. Zach Johnson (guitar) has since had 13 surgeries for a femur injury. Andrew Tkaczyk (drums) ultimately lost his leg. The band collectively came to see the ordeal as a moment to put their inspirational lyrics to the test. Songs that were once more philosophical in origin had become autobiographical.
The accident will always be a defining moment for The Ghost Inside, but never what defines them. The album taps into the raw emotional things they’ve been through, but the songs are not about reliving the worst day of their lives. “This isn’t about what happened to us,” Riley insists. “We won’t get lost in that one day. This is about our journey, our growth, and who we are.”
The ultimate victory for The Ghost Inside is their triumphant new self-titled album.
THE GHOST INSIDE TRACK LISTING 1. 1333 2. Still Alive 3. The Outcast 4. Pressure Point 5. Overexposure 6. Make Or Break 7. Unseen 8. One Choice 9. Phoenix Rise 10. Begin Again 11. Aftermath
A video album review on What The Dead Men Say, the ninth studio album from Trivium. “You’re a catastrophe” is my new favorite thing to tell someone I don’t like.
Scroll below the video to hear music from the new album.
LAMB OF GOD has issued a statement regarding the release of their upcoming self-titled album and the album’s third single:
“Regrettably, we have to announce that the release date for our upcoming self-titled album is being moved five weeks, to June 19th. We’re in extraordinary times due to the current global reality and the delay of shipments of all-but essential goods needed in the fight against COVID-19. After talks with our labels, there is no other option than to delay the release so that fans who pre-ordered the album can receive the record they paid for.
We appreciate your patience during these times – a global pandemic is not something people in the music industry usually take into account when scheduling album releases, but as you know, this thing has affected everyone across the board, and we are no exception. We will, however, be releasing a new song, “New Colossal Hate”, this Thursday, April 23rd and plan to release a 4th song from the album before the full album is released in June. Thank you for your understanding.
Wash your damn hands, let us know what you think of the new tunes, and see you on the road sometime!” – LAMB OF GOD
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.
Lamb Of God track listing: 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
Lamb Of God’s self-titled, 8th studio album is now set to be released June 19, 2020 on Epic Records.
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 GOD 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.
Last year, Puppy put together an ambitious treatment for a music video to accompany “Powder Blue,” a song from their newiii EP.
It involved a shedload of pyro, stage props, and lighting, with Puppy performing a killer heavy metal gig to a huge crowd. You know, the kind they had “watched on MTV as kids.”
Long story short, in the build up to the shoot, everything went to shit.
And without planning it that way, Puppy ended up being filmed playing a “socially distanced show” to an empty room.
The resulting video presents itself as a heartwarming reminder of why we all do this heavy metal lark — reflecting honestly on being a band in a quarantined world.
“‘Powder Blue’ is the first song on our last EP, iii. We called it that because it was our third EP, and because there are three of us in the band. For whatever reason, triptychs, triplets, three-pieces, and trilogies felt quite important to us at that point,” says the band. “The whole idea with the songs on iii was that they should sound like what they are: three people in a room together, with little-to-no over-dubs, add-ons, or studio wizardry. It’s fitting then that, because of world events, the video ended up mirroring this concept in its simplicity.”
Puppy continues, “We had a lot of ambitious ideas for this video going into it, and for many reasons these didn’t exactly play out how we’d hoped. But we like this video now precisely because of its limitations; because, like the EP, it’s a record of three people coming together to try and make something bigger than the sum of their parts. The fact that we failed miserably doesn’t seem to matter as much now.”
iii was recorded in Hackney’s largely analogue Holy Mountain Studios, around the corner from the rehearsal space where Puppy first started making music together, with producer Misha Hering.
iii TRACKLISTING: “Powder Blue” “Agatha” “_fig.1” “Serotonin” “Charms” “_fig.2” “Star Of The Sea” “Letterbomb”
A special edition of How Did I Miss This?! where my patrons suggest and vote on albums that I missed. This video looks at the latest from Spanish Love Songs, Suicide Silence, The Amity Affliction, The Birthday Massacre, Sons Of Apollo, and Sylosis.
How Did I Miss This?! | Spanish Love Songs, Suicide Silence, More
Click below to hear music from each album.
The Amity Affliction – “Soak Me In Bleach”
The Amity Affliction is an Australian metalcore band from Gympie, Queensland, formed in 2003. The band’s current line-up consists of Ahren Stringer (bass, keyboards, clean vocals), Joel Birch (lead vocals), Dan Brown (guitar) and Joe Longobardi (drums).
The Birthday Massacre – “Diamonds”
The Birthday Massacre (abbreviated TBM) is a Canadian rock band, formed in 1999 in London, Ontario, and currently based in Toronto, Ontario. The current lineup consists of lead vocalist Chibi, rhythm guitarist Rainbow, lead guitarist Falcore, keyboardist Owen, drummer Philip Elliot, and bassist Brett Carruthers.
Suicide Silence is an American deathcore band from Riverside, California. The band was established in 2002, and has released five full-length studio albums, one EP, and eleven music videos. They were awarded the Revolver Golden God award for “Best New Talent” in 2009. The group currently consists of guitarists Chris Garza and Mark Heylmun, drummer Alex Lopez, bassist Dan Kenny, and vocalist Hernan “Eddie” Hermida.
Spanish Love Songs – “Losers”
Spanish Love Songs are an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California. Spanish Love Songs released their first full-length album in 2016 titled Giant Sings the Blues. In 2018, the band released their second full-length, Schmaltz. In 2020, Spanish Love Songs released their third full-length album titled Brave Faces Everyone.
