Thrash Metal
Metallica Help Shred Some Demons In Stranger Things Season 4
[Editor’s note: The following contains spoilers through the Season 4 finale of Stranger Things, “The Piggyback.”] For a show already known for killer needle drops, Stranger Things Season 4 took things to a new level with its season finale. In the epic-length Episode 9, “The Piggyback,” our heroes decide to venture into the Upside Down to take down the malevolent demon known as Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower). The plan: Use Max (Sadie Sink) as bait to lure the demon into making a psychic attack, while the rest of the gang attacks Vecna’s comatose body. Vecna isn’t defenseless, though, as he’s guarded by an army of demonic bats. That’s when Eddie Munsen (Joe Quinn) — and his guitar — come into play. Eddie pulls out an amp and electric guitar and, with Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) headbanging beside...
Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine Will “Forgive” David Ellefson but “Won’t Play Music With Him Anymore”
Upon the announcement of Megadeth’s new album, The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead, frontman Dave Mustaine has opened up about last year’s ouster of longtime bassist David Ellefson. While Mustaine says it was a “hard decision,” he insists he “won’t play music with him anymore.” Ellefson was fired from Megadeth in 2021 when an embarrassing online sexual encounter between him and a young woman surfaced on social media. His bass parts for the upcoming album were subsequently re-recorded by Testament’s Steve DiGiorgio, while James LoMenzo has since been named as Ellefson’s permanent replacement. In a new interview with Metal Hammer, Mustaine discussed his decision to let Ellefson go from the band. “Let me just say this – it was a hard decision that had to be made,” said Mustaine. “There were a l...
Anthrax’s Frank Bello Announces Debut Solo EP Then I’m Gone
Anthrax bassist Frank Bello has announced his debut solo EP, Then I’m Gone, arriving November 4th. The release is a personal one for Bello, who played every instrument (except drums) on the EP’s three core tracks: “Then I’m Gone,” “It Won’t Be Long,” and “See Me Now.” He also scored and played additional narrative pieces that see Bello reading excerpts from his 2021 autobiography, Fathers, Brothers, and Sons: Surviving Anguish, Abandonment, and Anthrax. “I revisited some really dark times in my life when I was writing my book, and writing these songs was the result of reliving them,” said Bello via a press release. “Music has always been a great outlet for me as a coping mechanism. I felt it was a good time to put out these songs for people who connected with the book and maybe some who ha...
Anthrax Announce Blu-Ray and CD Release of 40th Anniversary Livestream Concert
Anthrax are releasing their 40th anniversary “Anthrax XL” livestream concert on Blu-Ray, CD, and digitally on July 15th via Megaforce Records. Ahead of its arrival, the thrash greats have offered up a clip of their performance of “Aftershock.” In July 2021, Anthrax celebrated four decades of thrash-metal excellence with a virtual concert and retrospective featuring interviews, testimonials, and reflections from the band members and many close associates from the scene. Guitarist Scott Ian even gave a “walking tour” of Anthrax’s stomping ground: New York City. “Forty years doesn’t feel like 40 years,” said drummer Charlie Benante via press release. “Sometimes, I have to remind myself about how long this strange trip has been. I enjoy playing these songs, they’re such a huge part of my life,...
Megadeth Name James LoMenzo as New Permanent Bassist
Megadeth have officially named James LoMenzo as their new permanent bassist. The veteran metal musician had already joined the legendary thrash band’s touring lineup as of last year, and now he can call himself a full-fledged member. LoMenzo essentially replaces founding bassist David Ellefson, who was ousted from Megadeth last year after an embarrassing online sexual encounter with a young woman. Testament’s Steve DiGiorgio was called in to re-record bass parts on the band’s upcoming album, The Sick, The Dying and The Dead, but LoMenzo was recruited to join the band on their co-headlining “Metal Tour of the Year” with Lamb of God, which just completed its second leg. This marks LoMenzo’s second stint with Megadeth, after being a member from 2006 through 2010. He played on the albums Unite...
Metallica Take Over Napa Valley with BottleRock Set and Late-Night Covers Show: Recap, Photos + Video
Napa, California’s BottleRock Festival finally returned after a two-year absence this weekend, and with Metallica headlining day one on Friday (May 27th), it got off to head-banging start. As they usually do, the legendary metal band made the show an event for their fans, making sure that they would have maximum Metallica intake. One of the bands that performed prior to Metallica’s headlining set was Bastardane, a hard-rock trio that includes James Hefield’s son Castor on drums. Although the band has a thrash metal influence, they have their own unique sound that seemed to get a seal of approval from the Metallica fans watching the show. Also approving was James himself, who could be seen behind the wings of the stage watching and nodding along, but soon he would be on a much bigger stage....
Vinnie Paul’s Estate Auctioning off Hundreds of the Late Pantera Drummer’s Items
The estate of the late Vinnie Paul is auctioning off hundreds of items and gear owned by the late Pantera drummer. Over 700 items are hitting the block, which will be hosted by Backstage Auctions. Highlight pieces include several drum kits played by Paul in Pantera, Damageplan, and Hellyeah; a collection of guitars (including a vintage Dimebag Darrell Washburn); slot machines; record awards; clothing; artwork; and a huge collection of sports memorabilia, as Vinnie loved hockey, football, and baseball. “Outside his impressive career, one that lasted nearly four decades, Vinnie Paul was a collector at heart, enjoying and appreciating every single memento,” the auctioneers noted. “This event is a tribute to his legacy, as much as it is an opportunity for all of his fans to continue that legac...
GWAR Kick Off “Death Rager” Tour, Unveil New Sour Delta-8 GWARtridge
Ahead of their upcoming album, The New Dark Ages, the mighty GWAR kicked off the spring US leg of their 2022 “Black Death Rager World Tour” at Piere’s Entertainment Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on Thursday night (May 19th). Per usual, the intergalactic barbarians laid waste to the venue and the audience. GWAR’s US outing, which features support from Crowbar (joining the tour beginning May 23rd), Necrogoblikon, and The Native Howl, runs through a June 17th show in Reading, Pennsylvania — with tickets available here. At last night’s show, GWAR gave the New Dark Ages song “Mother F**king Liar” its live debut, performing it alongside favorites from such albums as Scumdogs of the Universe, Ragnarök, and more. Advertisement Prior to taking the stage, GWAR warned fans of what was to come via Tw...
Municipal Waste Unveil New Song “High Speed Steel”: Stream
Municipal Waste are set to unleash their new album Electrified Brain on July 1st, and now they’ve shared the album’s second single, “High Speed Steel.” With a song title that could’ve been pulled from the sleeve of a classic ’80s metal LP, “High Speed Steel” lives up to is name. Bulldozing riffs and high octane leads are the name of the game as Municipal Waste proudly pay homage to the thrash greats that came before them. “’High Speed Steel’ is our ode to an era when heavy metal was transitioning into a faster form,” commented guitarist Ryan Waste. “We pushed the limits of our sound to channel that classic dynamic and keep the intensity high. It’s about overcoming the pressure and slicing down the odds when everything is stacked against you.” Advertisement Related Video Electrified Brain&n...
Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine and Gibson Unveil Signature Songwriter Acoustic Guitar
Megadeth founder Dave Mustaine and Gibson have teamed up for another signature model: the Gibson Songwriter acoustic guitar in ebony. The latest model in the Dave Mustaine Collection is the first Gibson acoustic guitar to be fitted with a 24-fret neck, which features mother of pearl teeth inlays. Touting a slightly thinner walnut body, the Songwriter also has a cutaway for easy access to the upper frets — essential for Megadeth-style shredding. Additional appointments include Grover Rotomatic tuners, a TUSQ nut, saddle, bridge pins, and a higher output LR Baggs VTC under-saddle pickup with soundhole mounted volume and tone controls. Vic Rattlehead artwork adorns the pickguard. Advertisement Related Video The guitar comes in a standard model and a limited-edition signed model, both with a c...
Anthrax and Black Label Society Announce Co-Headlining 2022 North American Tour
Metal veterans Anthrax and Black Label Society are teaming up for a co-headlining North American tour this Summer. Rounding out the bill are hardcore metallers Hatebreed. The outing kicks off July 26th in Phoenix, and runs through an August 28th show in Philadelphia. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday (April 22nd) at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster, but a series of pre-sales begin before then, including a Citi pre-sale on Monday (April 18th) at noon ET and a Live Nation pre-sale tomorrow (April 19th) at 10 a.m. local time (use code ROADIE). Anthrax, who formed in 1981, will finally be able to celebrate their 40th anniversary as a band in person with their fans, after a series of virtual events last year. The trek will also offer a chance for the thrash masters to hit ...
Metallica’s Kirk Hammett Shares New Song “High Plains Drifter” from Upcoming Solo EP: Stream
Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett has unveiled the new song “High Plains Drifter” from his upcoming instrumental solo EP, Portals, out April 23rd. The song offers the first taste of music from the EP, and sees Hammett embracing his fondness for cinema and epic musical composition. The guitarist enlisted the help of Edwin Outwater (Metallica’s S&M2), Jon Theodore of Queens of the Stone Age (and a member of Kirk’s covers act The Wedding Band), and members of the LA Philharmonic orchestra to achieve the grandeur heard on “High Plains Drifter.” As Hammett explained in a press release, the track shares an inspirational relationship with the 1973 film of the same name. Advertisement Related Video “[The song] was not meant to be specifically music for that film, but … once it was written, I im...
