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BLACK SABBATH

SLASH Says MOTÖRHEAD’s ‘Aftershock’ Is ‘One Of The Most Brilliant’ Rock Albums That Has Come Out In A Long Time

Manos Spanos
In a brand new interview with Independent.com, legendary guitarist Slash (GUNS N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER) was asked what still excites him about playing guitar. "I don't know; I just love playing guitar, and it seems the longer I've been doing it, the more I love it," he replied. "I've never really stopped to think what's really at the bottom of that. I just go with it." Slash also spoke about how touring now compares to touring with GUNS N' ROSES. "It's actually comparable to GN'R in the '80s, except for all the drugs that happened back then," he explained. "I really enjoy it, it's a lot of fun, and I like the pace of it. We do anywhere from five to six shows per week, and I love that; the more I do it, the more I love it." Regarding whatnew music has caught his attention of late, Slash said: "The latest record that I'm really in love with is 'Aftershock' by MOTÖRHEAD. I think it's one of the most brilliant rock 'n' roll records that has come out in a long time. I also really like the new BLACK SABBATH record." Asked what kind of advice he bestows upon young kids who want to pursue music, both for hobby and as a career, Slash replied: "As a hobby, it's a hell of a lot of fun, but as a career, it's a hell of a lot of work. Patience, perseverance, and practice — those are the three things that come to mind, and those are things that I still practice today. It's a never-ending process, but at the same time, if you love what you do, it's very rewarding." Read more from Independent.com.
01 min read

RANDY BLYTHE’s Book Gets Title, Tentative Release Date

Manos Spanos
According to Amazon.com, Da Capo Press has set a June 24, 2014 North American release date for LAMB OF GOD vocalist Randy Blythe's memoir, "Dark Days: My Tribulation And Trials". Random House has purchased the foreign rights to the book and will act as publisher in the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. The memoir, which puts emphasis on the past year of Randy's life, is an incredible, harrowing, heartbreaking, and redemptive story told in Blythe's already well-recognized writing style. It seems that almost every major media outlet has attempted to righteously cover the story of Blythe's arrest, incarceration, trial, and acquittal for manslaughter in the Czech Republic last year, but now, the man at the center of it all unveils the truths of the ordeal, personally detailing every aspect in his own words. No ghost writers, no co-authors, just Randy Blythe himself. The rights to Blythe's book were sold to Da Capo executive editor Ben Schafer by Marc Gerald at The Agency Group. "While I've dreamed of being a published author almost since I began to read, I never imagined my first book would center around such a sad topic," says Blythe. "Sometimes though, life unexpectedly provides you a story that needs to be told. I believe this one does (for several different reasons, not just for the benefit of myself), so I will tell it with the respect and dignity all involved deserve. This will be a good read, I promise you, and I hope some good comes of it." Added Schafer: "I knew that Randy was a master vocalist and lyricist but it turns out he is a vivid and visceral prose writer as well. "Regarding his arrest and trial in the Czech Republic, Randy handled a frightening and heartbreaking situation with courage, grace, and humility, and we at Da Capo Press are honored to have the opportunity to have a part in telling his story." Da Capo Press, a member of American publishing company the Perseus Books Group, is an excellent home for Blythe's memoir, having already published several other books by heavy metal greats like Tony Iommi (BLACK SABBATH), Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR), Rex Brown (PANTERA, DOWN, KILL DEVIL HILL) and Al Jourgensen (MINISTRY). Prague, Czech Republic's High Court upheld Blythe's "not guilty" verdict on June 5 in connection with the death of a fan three years ago. The court's decision is final. A three-judge panel on March 5 acquitted Blythe of manslaughter in the death of 19-year-old Daniel Nosek. Blythe was facing the possibility of conviction and a long-term jail sentence after a May 2010 incident in which Nosek, who attended a LAMB OF GOD performance in Prague, died almost a month later, allegedly from injuries sustained when he was thrown off the stage. Though Blythe faced up to 10 years in prison, during the closing argument, prosecutors only asked the judge for the minimum sentence of five years.
03 min read

OZZY OSBOURNE: ‘I’m Alive Because I’ve Got A Strong Wife’

Manos Spanos
BLACK SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne, who relapsed into drug and alcohol abuse for 18 months a couple of years ago, credits his wife and manager, Sharon, for saving his life. "I did a good job of being the living dead myself," he told Express.co.uk at at the ninth annual Classic Rock Roll Of Honour, which was held November 14 at London, England's Roundhouse. "I'm alive because I've got a strong wife, I think. I didn't expect to live past 30 – I remember when I was 21 saying I would be dead by 40. That was all right until I was 39½." Asked for any advice he'd give to young bands or his younger self, Ozzy said, "I'm not good at giving advice to anyone else. Drink more and take as much cocaine as you can. That's what I would tell my younger self." Ozzy admitted that he relapsed into drug and alcohol abuse in a statement posted by the BLACK SABBATH singer on April 15 on his Facebook page. He wrote: "For the last year and a half, I have been drinking and taking drugs. I was in a very dark place and was an aasshole to the people I love most, my family. However, I am happy to say that I am now 44 days sober. "Just to set the record straight, Sharon and I are not divorcing. I'm just trying to be a better person. "I would like to apologize to Sharon, my family, my friends and my bandmates for my insane behavior during this period... and my fans. God bless, Ozzy." Ozzy has struggled with drug and alcohol addiction throughout his entire 40-plus-year career, both with SABBATH and as a solo artist, although in recent years he seemed to have achieved a steady level of sobriety. Ozzy told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that the many years he spent drunk and high took a toll on his relationship with his kids — especially his son Jack. "The one downside about being the crazy guy of rock 'n' roll was the fact that I missed out on my children somewhat and they missed out on me," he said. "I had an argument with my son one time, and I go to him, 'Jack, what are you moaning at me for? You never wanted for a damn thing.' And he goes, 'Oh yeah? What about a father?' And it just kicked me straight between the legs and I was like, 'Good God.'"
02 min read

EXODUS Singer ROB DUKES To All The Haters: ‘Go F**k Yourself’

Manos Spanos
Jay Nanda of San Antonio Metal Music Examiner recently conducted an interview with EXODUS and GENERATION KILL singer Rob Dukes. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below. San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: Fans who know you strictly from EXODUS will get to hear [GENERATION KILL] songs that still keep your vocal style at times while often including a melodic side, without compromising the band's heaviness, such as in "Prophets of War", "Death Comes Calling" and "There Is No Hope". Is mixing it up a nice change of pace for you? Dukes: Absolutely. Not to take anything from EXODUS. I love doing it. I mean, it's fucking killer. But EXODUS is a thrash band, pure and simple, and very aggressive, and that's what I do there. I listen to more diverse music, so to be able to bring that into the fold is the object of the whole thing. I didn't want to start another thrash band, you know? Me and Rob Moschetti both grew up on [IRON] MAIDEN, BLACK SABBATH, early [JUDAS] PRIEST. We surrounded ourselves with guys who like the same stuff, and we just fucking went out and wrote songs that — you know, we're not reinventing the wheel here. So we just basically wrote songs that we like, that we wanted to hear. Not only play but songs we wanted to hear. So we stole a little bit from here, we stole a little bit from there. It wasn't like we sat down and said, "Let's steal from these albums." But those are the albums that shaped me as a person. Like when I was a kid, those first two IRON MAIDEN albums, SABBATH albums and early PRIEST were the stuff that I grew up on. And RUSH, PINK FLOYD — bands of that era. I appreciate you saying that it doesn't lose anything. Even though it's got some mellow stuff, it's actually dark and cool and seemed to fit. If it didn't fit, we wouldn't have done it, you know what I mean? San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: What's the latest with EXODUS? I'm sure with Gary [Holt, EXODUS guitarist] filling in for SLAYER for obvious circumstances, his participation has taken place a lot longer than you guys probably anticipated. How has that affected EXODUS going forward? Dukes: Well, we haven't toured as much. That's apparent. We've got way more down time than we're used to and had in the last 10 years, so that's one aspect I'm not really a big fan of. But that's how we all make our living, so we had to go out without him. It was what it was. Wish he was there, but listen, the guy's in SLAYER. I'm not going to begrudge him for that. That's awesome for him, and I know he's having fun doing it. I think eventually, when we do this new album which we're doing in February, he'll find a way to do both. There's a lot of people who do multiple things in life. Financially, it'll be good for him to have two incomes. I think we're going to find a way in 2014 to make it all happen. San Antonio Metal Music Examiner: I remember interviewing him a couple years ago by phone, and Gary was telling me how much heavier he thinks [EXODUS] has become since you took over on vocals compared to the previous singers. I've gotta agree. I don't know how you feel about that, but a lot of bands these days that have been around a long time kind of level off or don't get as heavier, and obviously you can't say that about EXODUS. You guys just seem to be heavier and crunchier with every record. Dukes: Yeah, I think so, man. I hope I'm carrying the torch well. I try not to read into the comments on fucking Blabbermouth and all the fucking haters. There's certain people that won't let go of the past. I realize, for the past, that's what it is for them. They love the time in the past, and I get it. Not everything is better than the original, and I never claimed to be. I claim to be doing this. Paul [Baloff, original EXODUS singer] died, unfortunately, so he's not here. So I'm carrying the torch. Zetro [Souza, former EXODUS singer] fucking quit. He fucking walked in one day — he didn't even walk in. He just didn't answer his phone and said, "I'm not doing this anymore." And he quit. And now he wants back. You know what? I think we're heavier. The first album, "Bonded By Blood", was so fucking dark, dude. Lyrically and just darkness. And then I think they went in a direction that kind of took away the darkness of it. By the time I joined, they were back into the dark. They were moving back in that direction. I stepped in and I said, "I'll carry the torch. I'll fucking do it." For the people that don't fucking like it, go fuck yourself. That's all I got for you. Fuck you, you know what I mean?
06 min read

TONY IOMMI To Be Honored By Coventry University

Manos Spanos
The lead guitarist of iconic rock band BLACK SABBATH and a princess of the Royal House of Jordan are among the outstanding individuals set to receive honorary degrees from Coventry University next week. Tony Iommi, who co-founded BLACK SABBATH in Birmingham in 1968, and Her Royal Highness Princess Rym Ali will be honoured by the University during its graduation ceremonies in Coventry Cathedral. Celebrated Coventrian and artist George Shaw — whose haunting depictions of the city's Tile Hill landscape have won him acclaim and a Turner Prize nomination — is also being recognized by the institution. The honorary graduands will receive their commendations in the same week that around 7,000 students are awarded their degrees from the University. Iommi will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts on Tuesday, November 19 in recognition of his contribution to the world of popular music, in particular his role as one of the founding fathers of heavy metal music and his status as one of the industry's most influential figures. On the Friday, Her Royal Highness Princess Rym Ali — who founded the Jordan Media Institute with which Coventry University has links — will become an Honorary Doctor of Letters for her contribution to the field of journalism and media. Honorary awards will also be presented to designer and educational fundraiser Lady Frances Sorrell, prominent lexicographer Michael Rundell and long-standing Coventry University governor Celia Fitzhugh. Iommi, who will be heading straight from the graduation ceremony to join BLACK SABBATH in Helsinki for the start of their latest European tour, said: "It's a great honor to receive the doctorate, which comes towards the end of a challenging but amazingly successful year for me. I'd like to thank everyone at Coventry University for my nomination and look forward to meeting them at the ceremony." Professor Madeleine Atkins, vice-chancellor of Coventry University, said: "It's a pleasure to be welcoming these exemplary individuals to our graduation ceremonies to receive their awards alongside our graduating students. Each of them has excelled in their field in such a way as to be worthy of recognition, and I hope our own students will be inspired by the drive and commitment they have shown throughout their careers."
02 min read

SLIPKNOT Is Working On ‘Very Heavy’ New Music, Says COREY TAYLOR

Manos Spanos
Eric Blair of "The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show" conducted an interview with SLIPKNOTand STONE SOUR singer Corey Taylor at the Bass Player LIVE! Concert & Awards Show, which was held this past Saturday night (November 9) at the historic Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The concert honored heavy metal legend, BLACK SABBATH's Geezer Butler, and featured an all-star band of rock luminaries performing BLACK SABBATH songs as a tribute to Butler. The performance culminated with Geezer joining the band for the finale. Asked about the progress of the songwriting sessions for SLIPKNOT's next album, Corey said: "We're just getting demos together right now, and [we're] hoping to get into the studio in the summer next year. So very soon we're gonna start having stuff to get out to the people." Regarding how the new SLIPKNOT material is shaping up so far, Corey said: "It's very heavy. I mean, just based on the stuff that I've been demoing and the stuff that I've been working with [drummer] Joey [Jordison] on, it is, like… Honestly, it's like [2004's] 'Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)' meets [2001's] 'Iowa'. It's really dark, but there's some really good esoteric stuff to it, a lot of good melody without taking away from the heaviness. It's gonna be pretty rad." Taylor told ARTISTdirect in a recent interview about SLIPKNOT's forthcoming fifth studio album: "The stuff I'm writing right now is really dark. The stuff Clown [Shawn Crahan, percussionist] is coming with is beyond. It's going to be cool to get the alchemists in the same room and see what happens." Taylor told The Pulse Of Radio that the band is not setting any deadlines on itself for making the new disc. "Right now the only plan is go into the studio and see what happens," he said. "After that, it's up to us. But I mean, hopefully that tides everybody over, you know, just the fact that we are going to go into the studio and start seeing what we can see. 'Cause I know I've got some music that I've been working on, Joey's got a bunch of stuff, Jim's [Root, guitarist] got some stuff, Clown's always got a lot of really interesting musical ideas, so it'll be really cool to kind of see what happens." The new SLIPKNOT album will be the band's first without bassist Paul Gray, another key member of the songwriting team who died of a drug overdose in May 2010. Joey Jordison's side band, SCAR THE MARTYR, recently released its self-titled debut CD. Taylor and Root have spent the last three years with STONE SOUR recording and touring behind three full studio records, 2010's "Audio Secrecy" and the double concept album"House Of Gold And Bones", which was released in two parts in 2012 and 2013. SLIPKNOT toured earlier this year and last summer.
03 min read

AVENGED SEVENFOLD: ‘Shepherd Of Fire’ Video Released

Manos Spanos
AVENGED SEVENFOLD's video for the song "Shepherd Of Fire" can be seen below. The clip was directed by Wayne Isham, who has helmed videos for such artists as METALLICA,PANTERA, GODSMACK, DEF LEPPARD and BON JOVI. Isham previously worked with AVENGED SEVENFOLD on the "Seize The Day", "Afterlife","Nightmare" and "So Far Away" clips. "Shepherd Of Fire" comes off AVENGED SEVENFOLD's sixth album, "Hail To The King", which sold 159,000 copies in its first week of release, giving the California band their second straight chart-topper after 2010's "Nightmare". Speaking to Kerrang!, vocalist M. Shadows stated about "Shepherd Of Fire": "If you just listen to the music, if feels you've been taken down to Hell. From the riffs, to the bells ringing, to the horns, to the drumbeat, it feels like you've been dragged down." M. Shadows said a few months back that the sound of the new CD was channeling earlier records from acts like PANTERA, METALLICA, BLACK SABBATH and others, and he told The Pulse Of Radio again just recently that the band was aiming for an older feel. "We said, 'Well, why don't we make a record that we would want to listen to today, that sounds like a late '90s or before record?'" he said. "And then we said production-wise we've got to make it sound like one of those records. We've got to have the big guitars, the huge drums that are over the top, and just like the punch that those records gave you. So what I would say is that this is a record in 2013 that reminds me of like an early '90s or before type metal record." "Hail To The King" is AVENGED SEVENFOLD's first full album written and recorded without drummer and charter member James "The Rev" Sullivan, who died in December 2009 during the early stages of writing for "Nightmare".
02 min read

DAVE MUSTAINE Says ‘The Best Is Yet To Come’ For MEGADETH

Manos Spanos
On October 22, Mau Alvarado of Costa Rica's "80s Y Mas" conducted an interview with MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine when the band played at Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica in San José as the support act for BLACK SABBATH. Check out the chat below. A couple of excerpts follow. On where he sees MEGADETH five or ten years from now: Mustaine: "There was a period about ten years ago when I was really unhappy with the way things were going in the music business and with MEGADETH in general. And there was a lot of internal turmoil with the band — a lot of fighting and stuff like that — and a lot of times, I would ask myself: 'Is this really what I wanna do with the rest of my life?' And once we had the breakup after I my arm got injured and I re-evaluated my career, it changed things, and meeting up with Shawn [Drover, drums] and Chris [Broderick, guitar] really made me, I believe, a much more grateful player. So I think right now the best is yet to come for us. We really have gotten a lot better in the last, probably, two years even. We're playing better now than, I think, we've ever played." On whether he will still be rocking like THE ROLLING STONES when he reaches the age of 65 or 70: Mustaine: "Like THE ROLLING STONES? [laughs] Let's see. I hope so. I hope better, actually, because I think I am in better shape than they are at… When they were 52, I think I'm in better shape than they were. And I have tremendous respect for THE ROLLING STONES, but I think it's all relative. I mean, look at Bruce Springsteen; he's just as old as they are, but nobody says anything about it, 'cause he takes of himself. I take care of myself. A lot of people say stuff about my age because of the whole 'Big Four' thing and what it stands for, or they [mention] the injury to my neck. But if I didn't have those two things, nobody would say, 'Oh, God, he's 52.' They wouldn't even care."
02 min read

New TROUBLE Lineup Performs Live For First Time (Video)

Manos Spanos
Doom metal legends TROUBLE played their first show with their new lineup — featuring singerKyle Thomas and bassist Rob Hultz — on October 12 at the Day Of Doom festival in Barcelona, Spain. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below. Hultz is no stranger to the heavy metal, hard rock, and doom metal genres as his lengthy music resume boasts. While still in high school, he joined an East Coast hardcore band calledSOCIAL DECAY which served as his introduction to recording and touring. After a decade, he left with the guitar player to form the doom metal band GODSPEED and was signed to Atlantic Records. Their debut album was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York and produced by Rachel Bolan of SKID ROW. The band was represented by Gloria Butler Managementand toured with iconic bands such as BLACK SABBATH, DIO and CATHEDRAL, to name just a few. In 1996, Hultz helped form SOLACE, another notable doom metal band, which was signed toMeteor City Records, and played large arenas, clubs, and festivals such as Roadburn andHellfest. Their last recording, "A.D.", was released on Small Stone Records in 2010 and voted Best Metal Album of the Year on iTunes. Since then, Hultz has lent his talents on projects for LETHAL AGGRESSION and DISEASE CONCEPT. Commenting on the band's decision to recruit Hultz, TROUBLE founder and guitarist Rick Wartell stated: "Bruce Franklin and I played the bass parts on 'The Distortion Field', with the exception of one song. However, as we began preparing to tour in support of the album, it became really important to choose the right person for the band. Rob is not only a great bass player but also a total pro with an impressive band history, and he's got the TROUBLEpersonality so he definitely fits in well. We look forward to him joining us on the road and being a bandmate for a long time to come." "The Distortion Field", the first studio album in six years from TROUBLE, sold around 760 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 25 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200. Released in Europe on August 23 via FRW Records, the 12-song follow-up to 2007's "Simple Mind Condition" was helmed by veteran producer Bill Metoyer (SLAYER, W.A.S.P.,ARMORED SAINT, DARK ANGEL, SACRED REICH, CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER, D.R.I.) and marks the recording debut with TROUBLE of lead singer Kyle Thomas following the departure of the group's frontman of four years, Kory Clarke (of WARRIOR SOUL fame). TROUBLE 2013 is: Kyle Thomas: Vocals Bruce Franklin: Guitar Rick Wartell: Guitar Mark Lira: Drums Rob Hultz: Bass
04 min read

TESTAMENT Guitarist: I Don’t Hear The Metal In METALLICA As Much As I Would Like To Hear

Manos Spanos
The Great Southern Brainfart recently conducted an interview with guitarist Eric Peterson of San Francisco Bay Area metallers TESTAMENT. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below. The Great Southern Brainfart: I have to congratulate you on "Dark Roots Of Earth". What a fucking masterpiece. You guys clearly aren't out of ideas but you have captured this kind of youthful. Where did that come from? Eric: For me, that second wind all started with [1999's] "The Gathering". It's been so long between records but "The Gathering" was the fire for me. It was fast stuff mixed with modern sounds. Definitely with [2008's] "The Formation Of Damnation", we came back strong and with the original lineup and "Dark Roots Of Earth" as well, I feel, was really strong. I think, in a way, we've come full circle with our sound and going back to our roots but not copying it. I also feel like technology has gotten so much better, you know? It's easier to record now and things like Pro Tools have made things a bit more simpler. The Great Southern Brainfart: TESTAMENT seems to have really found a good place to be musically and, as you said earlier, have come full circle. Is this a place where you're happy and how do you see TESTAMENT progressing from here? Eric: Well, we know what we want now. When we were younger, we just kind of went into the studio and let the producer get the sounds and we just played the songs. Of course, we gave our opinions but I don't think we knew then what we wanted as much as we do now. Now we know exactly what we want. Chuck [Billy; vocals] knows exactly how he wants to sound and I know how I want to sound. I know what I want the drums to do and everything. The Great Southern Brainfart: TESTAMENT has 25 years behind them now. Is it weird to look at yourself and say, "I'm a classic metal act now"? Eric: [laughs] Yeah, definitely. We both think that, don't we? [laughs] I think it's weird that time flies. When we were kids, we looked up to JUDAS PRIEST and BLACK SABBATH and those guys who are older, seasoned rock guys. Well, that's us now. [laughs] The Great Southern Brainfart: Looking back on TESTAMENT's 26-year career, is there anything you look back on and think, "I wish we would've done that differently"? Eric: Yeah, definitely. I think the production and some of the mixing on our past albums. I also wouldn't have rushed out "Souls Of Black" like we did. That album could've been something different. It is a classic record now, but it was just thrown together so quickly. The Great Southern Brainfart: You've said before that seeing METALLICA for the first time was what really drove you to put TESTAMENT (back then LEGACY) together and start doing this kind of music. What is your opinion on METALLICA's change in approach and sound over the years?
04 min read