Heavy Music News
Mike Patton: “Singers Are Fucking Idiots”
If anyone knows singing, it’s Mike Patton. He fronts numerous bands and has one of the greatest — if not the greatest — vocal ranges of all time. That all said, Patton insists that “singers are fucking idiots.” In a new interview with Bandcamp that focuses on his extensive discography with his various bands and projects — including Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Dead Cross, Fantômas, Tomahawk, and more — Patton discussed his role as a singer. “I still see it as, ‘I am here to help,’” reasoned Patton. “I am a component. I think that’s important, but let’s be honest: Singers are fucking idiots. They think they own the fucking show, but they don’t, okay? That’s one thing I’ve learned over the years: All you’ve gotta do is sit back and be a part of the fucking band.” Advertisement Related Vi...
Alice in Chains’ Dirt Re-Enters Top 10 of Billboard 200 Chart on Its 30th Anniversary
Listen via: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Amazon Podcasts | Stitcher | Radio Public | Pocket Casts | RSS Alice in Chains’ seminal 1992 album, Dirt, has re-entered the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart 30 years after its release. The chart achievement comes thanks in large part to a 30th anniversary remastered reissue of the LP, which was released on September 23rd. Advertisement Featuring such classics as “Would?,” “Them Bones,” and “Rooster,” Dirt is considered by many as Alice in Chains’ masterpiece. It is the subject of the new season of Consequence‘s podcast The Opus, with Episode 1 having premiered earlier this week (listen above). The appearance of Dirt at No. 9 is the first time it’s cracked th...
Ozzy Osbourne Launches His Own Line of Beauty Products
Ozzy Osbourne has teamed with Rock and Roll Beauty to launch his own collection of beauty products. The Ozzy Osbourne Collection features 21 separate pieces inspired by the Prince of Darkness, who’s been known to wear his fair share of makeup and eyeliner over the years. Some of the items in the new line include: 14-pan eye shadow palettes (one shaped like a coffin and another like a bat), candles, Ozzy-styled body tattoos, lipsticks, a cosmetic bag, a gothic mirror, and nail stickers. The new collection is only one of Ozzy’s many endeavors in 2022. Most notably, he released a new studio album, Patient Number 9, which notched the Ozzman his first No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Album Sales chart. Once again produced by Andrew Watt, the record features an all-star cast of guest talent, including t...
New Zealand Band Crooked Royals Premiere New Song “Counterfeit”: Stream
New Zealand-based band Crooked Royals are premiering their new song “Counterfeit” exclusively via Heavy Consequence. The track arrives ahead of the group’s debut album, Quarter Life Daydream, out October 21st via Periphery’s 3DOT Recordings. The band notably features two vocalists — Christian Carstensen on clean parts and Lee Mackley on gutturals — who trade off to create a push-and-pull effect. It works splendidly on “Counterfeit,” evoking hints of Linkin Park, albeit with a more metalcore edge. Tapped guitars and tightly pocketed rhythms guide the track through its near-three-minute duration. “‘Counterfeit’ is about the duality of perception,” remarked Crooked Royals in a collective statement. “The song is an argument with yourself about why we do things, observing other people’s motives...
Liturgy Announce New Double Album 93696, Release Title Track and Mini-LP: Stream
Liturgy have announced a new double album and shared the title track “93696.” The band also released a new stand-alone mini-LP, As the Blood of God Bursts the Veins of Time, that is available to stream now. Clocking in at 15 minutes, “93696” is another ambitious sonic leap for Liturgy. The genre-defying epic is structured into three movements that are crammed with musical flourishes. At any one point, you might hear tremelo-picked black metal riffs, a Melvins-y breakdown, or mind-boggling mathematical prog. The howls of guitarist/vocalist Ravenna Hunt-Hendrix (formerly Hunter Hunt-Hendrix) peek in and out of the fray. Hunt-Hendrix has been at the center of Liturgy since its inception, often joined by a revolving-door lineup of musicians who can achieve her complex musical vision. Here, the...
Zakk Wylde to Launch Online Instructional Guitar Course
Zakk Wylde has announced an online guitar course, “Zakk Wylde Berserker Guitar Camp,” which launches October 14th via Riffhard. If you’ve ever wanted to shred like the imitable Ozzy Osbourne/Black Label Society guitarist, now is your chance to learn from the man himself. Joined by fellow Black Label Society guitarist Dario Lorina, Wylde will teach aspiring guitarists the secrets behind his iconic pinch harmonics and vibrato, as well as riffs and solos from his most famous songs (including Ozzy Osbourne hits such as “No More Tears”). The complete course is separated into 10 sections with over 94 individual videos overall — a total of 12-plus hours of lessons. Much of the content sees Wylde and Lorina offering personal insight and tutorials straight to the camera, acting as virtual guitar te...
Nick Oliveri Blasts Former Kyuss Bandmates for Not Allowing Use of Band Name
Nick Oliveri has called out former Kyuss bandmates Josh Homme and Scott Reeder for not allowing use of the “Kyuss” band name. During his stint in the band, Oliveri played alongside guitarist Homme (whom he would also play with in Queens of the Stone Age), singer John Garcia, bassist Scott Reeder, and drummer Brant Bjork. This lineup would release the band’s debut, 1991’s Wretch, and the seminal 1992 desert/stoner metal album Blues for a Red Sun before Oliveri left the group in 1992. Bjork stuck around for one more album, 1994’s Welcome to Sky Valley, while the entire band would break up two years later in 1995. Homme has since achieved international fame with Queens of the Stone Age, while Oliveri (who exited QOTSA in 2004) and Bjork recently formed the far more Kyuss-esque group Stöner. P...
Fever 333 Down to One Member After Guitarist and Drummer Exit Band: “Things Were Pretty Bad Internally”
Fever 333, the trio led by frontman Jason Aalon Butler, are down to just one member (Butler) after guitarist Stephen “Stevis” Harrison and drummer Aric Improta announced their departure from the band on Monday (October 3rd). The surprising news came via Instagram posts from Harrison and Improta. Harrison wrote, “Aric and I have decided to leave Fever 333. I won’t get into the details but things were pretty bad internally. That plus creative differences sort of left me with no choice.” He continued, “That said, I’m so thankful for all the amazing fans, people who helped Fever behind the scenes, and my friends and family who supported me through all of this. Your support means so much! I still plan to make music. Aric and I will probably do something together in the future. Love you guys!! K...
Scott Weiland’s Previously Unreleased Cover of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” Unveiled: Stream
Scott Weiland‘s 2011 holiday album The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is receiving a vinyl reissue on October 21st. The original 10-song tracklist is bolstered by four bonus cuts, including a previously unreleased cover of John Lennon and Yoko Ono‘s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” that’s available now. It’s a shame the cover wasn’t included on the original release, as it’s a passionate rendition of the 1971 song that still rings poignant given the state of the world. It also marks the first posthumous material from the late Weiland, who passed away in 2015. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Deluxe Edition will arrive in two Christmas-themed vinyl variants, red and green, with updated cover artwork. The other three bonus tracks are alternate versions recorded during rehearsals for the album ...
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 ...
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...
RUSH’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson Perform with Dave Grohl, Chad Smith, and Danny Carey at Taylor Hawkins Tribute Show: Watch
The second of two tribute concerts in honor of late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins took place Tuesday night (September 27th) in Los Angeles. Among the gargantuan 53-song setlist were three RUSH songs performed by original members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson and a cast of all-star drummers. Lee and Lifeson were first joined by Dave Grohl for “2112 Part I: Overture,” the first movement of the 1976 prog-rock epic. The trio nailed the difficult stop-and-start rhythms, with Grohl pounding away at the floor tom and eying Geddy for cues. Grohl then handed over the sticks to Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, who has become somewhat of a journeyman, playing on Ozzy Osbourne’s recent albums in addition to his full-time work with a very active RHCP. Here, he settled into the pocket for “W...
