Heavy Metal
Sabaton Announce EP Trilogy, Release First Collection Weapons of the Modern Age: Stream
Sabaton have announced a trilogy of EPs titled Echoes of the Great War. The EPs further explore the history of World War I, and the band has released the first collection, Weapons of the Modern Age, which is now streaming. The new EP arrives amidst Sabaton’s fall North American tour. The band plays in Dallas on Friday night (September 30th) and continues on the road through an October 23rd gig in New York City, with tickets available via Ticketmaster. The Swedish power metallers have been digging deep into the first World War, having released two concept albums on the topic, The Great War (2019) and The War to End All Wars (2022). Based on a sampling of the first EP in the trilogy, fans can expect plenty of historically accurate lyrics paired with a heavy dose of fist-pumping, power-metal ...
Mining Metal: An Abstract Illusion, Barn, Floating, Lunar Spells, Mamaleek, Miscreance, Toadeater, and Toughness
As the first summer this decade that felt like a true summer winds down, metalheads rejoice as the seasons turn in our favor. We trade in our black cutoff death metal shirts for black long-sleeved death metal shirts, battle jackets give way to actual jackets (denim and patch-filled, of course), cut-off cargos transform into jeans while combat boots…actually, who knows what metalheads wear to shows these days, though Dave Mustaine is hopefully still kicking about in his Nike Air Tech Challenge IIs. The point is, temperatures will start dropping throughout most of the world soon, and inside those cold weather months is peak metal mise-en-scene. The black metal that champions either Scandanavian pastures or American fauna usually comes with a wintery tone, though that’s not to say that fall d...
Judas Priest’s Richie Faulkner Undergoes Second Heart Surgery: “I’m Not Completely Out of the Woods”
A year ago this week, Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner nearly died when his aorta ruptured onstage during the band’s set at Louder Than Life festival in Louisville. While marking the anniversary of the harrowing incident, the metal musician disclosed that he recently had a second open heart surgery. On September 26th, 2021, Priest were finishing up their set at the Louisville fest when Faulkner’s aorta ruptured during the closing number, “Painkiller.” He was rushed to the hospital, where he underwent a life-saving, 10-hour emergency surgery. As he described it shortly after the procedure, “Five parts of my chest were replaced with mechanical components…..I’m literally made of metal now.” Now, a year later, Faulkner has revealed that he’s not “completely of out the woods yet,” as he r...
Metallica to Play Old-School Tribute Concert for Megaforce Records Founders
Metallica have announced a tribute show to honor late Megaforce Records founders Jonny and Marsha Zazula. The Zazulas launched the heavy metal label in 1982 and helped give Metallica their start when they signed the band and released 1983’s Kill ‘Em All and 1984’s Ride the Lightning. Sadly, Jonny and Marsha both passed away in the last two years. Metallica will only play songs from ’83 and ’84 at the tribute concert, which is set for November 6th at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida. Fellow Megaforce alum Raven will provide support, reprising the 1983 tour package that featured the two bands. Advertisement Related Video “Jonny gave us our first break in New York, released our first albums on his Megaforce Records label, and put us out on the road for our first real tour,” Metallica said...
Ghost’s Papa Emeritus IV Throws Out First Pitch at White Sox Game
Ghost may not seem like a band of particularly sporty people, but hey, you never know. The Swedish metal band’s singer Papa Emeritus IV stopped by Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago on Thursday to throw out the first pitch at the White Sox’s game against the Cleveland Guardians. Decked out in a black-and-white White Sox uniform and matching face paint, Papa Emeritus IV took a break from Ghost’s ongoing arena tour to commence the game, even posing for a photograph with White Sox pitcher Liam Hendriks. Ghost’s latest outing is in support of their March album Impera, one of the best hard rock albums of the year. Joined by Mastodon and Spiritbox, the trek wraps up September 23rd at Green Bay, Wisconsin’s Resch Center (with Carcass replacing Mastodon). Check out our review and photos of the ...
Adam Levine Says “No Hot Chicks” Listen to Metal
As a grocery store pop rocker with a tummy tattoo, Adam Levine is very much qualified to comment on both heavy metal and how people look. And as he sees it, “no hot chicks” listen to heavy metal. The Maroon 5 singer came into the news earlier this week when Instagram model Sumner Stroh revealed messages between the two, implying they had an affair (Levine even allegedly asked for her permission to name his unborn child Sumner). After Stroh came forward, other women followed, sharing screenshots and screen recordings of their messages with the artist. It was in Instagram messages with Alyson Rosef that Levine opined about the fan demographics of metal. After Rosef said, “I’m so weird too and only listen to metal lol,” Levine allegedly replied, “Said no hot chicks ever other than you.” ...
Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard Stadium Tour Grosses $173.5 Million
Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe’s co-headlining stadium tour brought in a whopping $173.5 million, making it the highest grossing tour of either band’s career. The highly anticipated outing finally took place in 2022 after being postponed twice due to the pandemic. The bill was utterly stacked, with the aforementioned headliners receiving support from fellow rock icons Poison and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. Average ticket sales for each night were 37,520 — more than three times the draw that Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe had previously reached on their own — with an average nightly earning of $4.96 million. Advertisement Related Video Boston was the largest market, with the bands playing a two-night stand at Fenway Park on August 5th and 6th. A total of 64,000 tickets sold for $9.3 million ...
Steel Panther Announce New Bassist Ahead of Fall 2022 North American Tour
Steel Panther have announced their new bassist and a short fall 2022 North American tour. The musician known as Spyder will take over permanent bass duties for the pseudo-parody glam metal act, replacing longtime bassist Lexxi Foxxx, aka Travis Haley, who left the group in 2021. The band’s press announcement declares Spyder “the chocolate to Steel Panther’s peanut butter,” and it’s been a smooth transition for Lexxi’s replacement so far. Sypder first played live with Steel Panther in 2018 and then filled in during a five-week European tour this summer. It apparently went well, as Spyder is now (in the band’s own words) the new “R.O.L.E … Ruler of Low End.” Related Video “We wanted it to be you,” the band remarked via a press release. “We wanted it to be you so badly. So, it’s not gonna be ...
10 Must-See Acts to Catch at Louder Than Life 2022
The 2022 Louder Than Life festival boasts one of the strongest lineups of any rock gathering in the United States this year. Led by legendary acts such as Nine Inch Nails, Slipknot, KISS, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and more, the four-day extravaganza is sure to bring a memorable experience to Louisville, Kentucky. Taking place September 22nd through 25th, Louder Than Life is absolutely jam-packed. Thursday’s lineup will see NIN joined by Bring Me the Horizon, Evanescence, Tenacious D, Ministry, and more. On Friday, Slipknot tops a bill that features Lamb of God, Shinedown, Mastodon, Meshuggah, Clutch, GWAR, and several others. Advertisement Related Video Saturday will see the iconic one-two-three punch of KISS, Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie, not to mention Body Count, Chevelle, Ghostemane, Seven...
Metallica Announce 2022 “Helping Hands” Benefit Concert in Los Angeles
Metallica have announced their third-ever “Helping Hands” benefit concert and auction. Featuring performances by Metallica and “special guests,” the show and auction are set for December 16th at the Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles. The third iteration of the “Helping Hands Concert and Auction” follows a remote livestream benefit show back in November 2020. All proceeds from the event — tickets, fees, and auction items — will “go directly to help those in need.” Previously, the 2020 livestream raised funds for partners at Feeding America and the American Association of Community Colleges, as well as various COVID and disaster relief efforts via Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation. Tickets will be on sale to the public from 10 a.m. local time Friday (September 23rd) wit...
Corrosion of Conformity Announce Fall 2022 US Tour with Spirit Adrift and The Native Howl
Corrosion of Conformity have announced a Fall 2022 US tour with Spirit Adrift and The Native Howl. The dates kick off November 10th in Baton Rough, Louisiana, and wrap up November 27th in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Tickets go on sale Friday (September 16th) at 10 a.m. ET via Ticketmaster. The tour boasts a strong package of heavy talent. Led by singer-guitarist Pepper Keenan, Corrosion of Conformity are road-tested vets, having recently supported Ministry’s “Industrial Strength Tour” earlier this year. CoC’s most recent album is 2018’s No Cross No Crown, but the band’s setlist is sure to cull tunes from its acclaimed mid-’90s output, including 1994’s Deliverance. Related Video Meanwhile, Spirit Adrift have risen the ranks of the heavy metal underground while keeping up a prolific rate of outp...
R.I.P. David Andersson, Soilwork Guitarist Dies at 47
David Andersson, who had been Soilwork’s guitarist for the past 10 years, sadly died at age 47. In a statement, the Swedish metal band cited “alcohol and mental illness” as factors that led to his passing. Soilwork have been around for a quarter century, with Andersson joining the band in 2012. He appeared on their last four albums, including their latest, Övergivenheten, which just came out last month. In a statement posted to their Facebook page, Soilwork wrote the following: “We are deeply saddened today, as we bring the terrible news of David Andersson’s passing. He was one of a kind and a brilliant man in so many ways. He was our guitarist for more than 10 years and had a big impact on Soilwork’s musical journey forward. Sadly alcohol and mental illness took you away from us. We will ...
