Heavy Metal
Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson Halts Spoken-Word Tour After Household Member Tests Positive for COVID
Bruce Dickinson has postponed the final two dates of his UK spoken-word tour after a member of the Iron Maiden singer’s household tested positive for COVID-19. The news broke via Iron Maiden’s social media accounts, which stated that a member of Dickinson’s “immediate household” had contracted the virus. Dickinson himself tested negative, but under UK government rules, he must isolate for the next 10 days. The scheduled shows tonight (August 9th) at the Birmingham Alexandra and tomorrow (August 10th) at Shepherd’s Bush Empire will be rescheduled, according to the official statement: “Due to a member of Bruce’s immediate household having tested positive for COVID-19, it is with great regret that the final two shows of his ‘Evening With’ tour cannot go ahead as planned tonight at the Birming...
Tiny Toddler Storms the Stage at Extreme Metal Festival: Watch
A tiny toddler took over the stage at the 2021 Obscene Extreme metal festival in the Czech Republic last month, seemingly unfazed and even pleased by the musical brutality that was being delivered behind him. The little tough guy thankfully sported some ear protection while stomping across the stage as the Czech band Force of Hell rocked a crushing song during their July 17th set on Day 2 of the three-day extravaganza at Battlefield Trutnov. At one point, the youngster took a seat at the front of the stage as long-haired metalheads were headbanging at the barricade in front of him. Later on, he went right up to a speaker and embraced it, soaking in its booming vibrations. Advertisement Related Video Last month, we reported that a New Zealand mom had named her three kids Metallica, Slayer, ...
Black Sabbath’s Technical Ecstasy to Get Expanded Deluxe Edition Reissue
Black Sabbath’s 1976 album Technical Ecstasy is getting the expanded reissue treatment. A new “Super Deluxe Edition” of the album arrives October 1st via BMG. The box set features remastered original audio and over 90 minutes of previously unreleased outtakes, alternate mixes, and live tracks. Like the previous Super Deluxe Editions of Vol. 4 and Sabotage, the upcoming Technical Ecstasy reissue also includes a new mix of the album by Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree). More specifically, the reissue touts eight previously unreleased outtakes and alternative mixes, including different mixes of “You Won’t Change Me” and “Rock ’n’ Roll Doctor,” as well as both outtake and instrumental versions for “She’s Gone.” Rounding out the set it a collection of 10 previously unreleased live cuts from the ex...
Bassist Rudy Sarzo Returns to Quiet Riot After 18-Year Absence
Bassist Rudy Sarzo has announced he will return to Quiet Riot after an 18-year absence from the veteran metal band. “I am returning home,” Sarzo told Eddie Trunk on SiriusXM on Monday (August 2nd), “going home to Quiet Riot in the beginning of 2022, next year.” “Next year marks 50 years of my journey with Quiet Riot,” he added (as transcribed by Blabbermouth), “because that’s when I met and I started playing with [late drummer] Frankie Banali, another founding member of the Metal Health version of Quiet Riot. To me, that was a turning point [for me] as a musician.” Advertisement Related Video Sarzo first joined Quiet Riot in 1978, and played on the band’s influential 1983 album Metal Health. Bolstered by a hit single — an arena-ready cover of Slade’s “Cum on Feel the Noise” — the LP became...
Full of Hell Announce New Album, Unleash New Song “Industrial Messiah Complex”: Stream
Full of Hell have announced a new album, Garden of Burning Apparitions, arriving October 1st. They’ve also shared the video for the lead single, “Industrial Messiah Complex.” Fronted by vocalist and lyricist Dylan Walker, Full of Hell have put their name on some of the most extreme heavy music of the past decade. “Industrial Messiah Complex” is another example of their captivating harshness, blending grindcore, death metal, and industrial into a singular, potent force. “‘Industrial Messiah Complex’ examines the commodification and weaponization of faith and spirituality,” Walker said of the track in a press statement. “This misdirection is a ploy for control and power. Whether through some profit obsessed mega-church or via militaristic action, humanity is raked over the coals and bled out...
OTTTO (Tye Trujillo) Share New Song “Ride Low”: Stream
OTTTO, a trio featuring Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo’s teenaged son Tye Trujillo, has shared the video for their new single “Ride Low.” There’s a tangible Metallica flavor to the heavy track. If you listen closely, you can even pick out some Hetfield-isms from singer-guitarist Bryan Noah Ferretti. Accompanying the single is a fierce performance music video lensed by Paul Marchand, who directed the Robert Trujillo-produced 2014 documentary Jaco. Amid the dark subtextual plot, you can see Tye and company enthusiastically thrashing out. Advertisement Related Video “Somewhere in Los Angeles it’s still the same as it always was — whirling helicopters, barking dogs, and the din of general insanity drift through busted single-pane windows on the hot summer breeze,” the band said of the video...
Ratt’s Stephen Pearcy Reveals That He Has Been Battling Liver Cancer
Ratt singer Stephen Pearcy has revealed that he’s been battling liver cancer for the past three years in a new interview. Speaking with YouTube show “Laughingmonkeymusic,” Pearcy made the revelation about his health issues, stating that it was finally time to tell fans what he’s been going through and that “everything’s kind of copacetic now.” “How I found out is just through a blood test,” Pearcy said [as transcribed by Blabbermouth]. “I had hepatitis. Well, then, getting another checkup, I found out, ‘By the way, you’ve got a bit of cancer thing going there. We’ve gotta get in there.’ Then your whole world changes. Still, I didn’t feel like it needed to be out there until I started feeling guilty. Like, ‘Wow, man, I can help some people.’ Get blood tests. Take care of yourself.” Advertis...
Cradle of Filth Announce 2021 North American Tour
Cradle of Filth have announced a fall 2021 North American outing, dubbed the “Lustmord and Tourgasm” tour. During the run, the UK extreme metal band will perform the 1998 concept album Cruelty and the Beast in its entirety, as well as a “lengthy encore of hits.” 3Teeth and Once Human will provide support for the 20-show tour. It kicks off on October 1st in Dallas and runs through an October 26th date in San Francisco. Cradle of Filth then heads to the Monterey Metal Festival in Monterey, Mexico, for a performance on October 29th. “It’s been far too long America, but soon we will return to haunt your shores again,” frontman Dani Filth said in a press release. “We, as a band, are very much looking forward to coming back to the States and performing Cruelty and the Beast in its entirety (plus...
Slipknot Issue Touching Statement on the Passing of Founding Drummer Joey Jordison, Share Tribute Video
Slipknot have issued a touching statement on the death of founding drummer Joey Jordison, who passed away this week at age 46. The band also shared a tribute video of the late drummer on social media. Jordison was a founding member of Slipknot and played in the band until his departure in December 2013. He later revealed that he suffered from transverse myelitis, a neurological disease that limited his the ability to play the drums. Slipknot released an official statement via Twitter on Friday (July 30th): “Our hearts go out to Joey’s family and loved ones at this time of tremendous loss. Joey Jordison’s art, talent, and spirit could not be contained or be held back. Joey’s impact on Slipknot, on our lives, and on the music that he loved, is incalculable. Without him there would be no us. ...
Sepultura Announce Spring 2022 North American Tour
Sepultura will make the trip back to North America in spring of 2022. The Brazilian heavy metal band has announced an extensive tour in support of their latest album, 2020’s Quadra, which they’ve been unable to support with live shows yet due to the global pandemic. The outing will kick off March 4th in Sacramento, California, and keep the veteran metal act on the road for a little over a month before wrapping up April 8th in Berkeley, California. Sacred Reich, Crowbar and Art of Shock will serve as support on the tour, which features both rescheduled and newly added dates. “We are extremely excited to reconnect with everyone in North America for this upcoming tour,” vocalist Derrick Green said in a statement. “We look forward to seeing all the people who have been anxious to see shows for...
Mining Metal: Dungeon Serpent, Hellish Form, Lantlos, Mesa, Midwife, Mordred, Night Crowned, Sallow Moth
As I write this introduction, I’ve just found out about the passing of Mike Howe, vocalist of the criminally underrated band Metal Church. He was 55 years old — too young. The last time I memorialized a musician in this column, it was Entombed vocalist L.G. Petrov. Howe’s story differs from Petrov’s in two critical ways. First, because Petrov’s passing was unfortunate but expected, whereas Howe’s was surprising. Second, while Petrov and Entombed had gone their separate ways, the band had achieved notoriety commensurate with their artistic output. In contrast, Howe had been an active member of Metal Church at the time of his death. Despite 40 years of existence, the band isn’t as well known as they deserve to be. Metal Church was one of the Seattle-area ’80s heavy metal bands that, alongsid...
Rainbow in the Dark Admirably Chronicles Ronnie James Dio’s Iconic Career: Book Review
For years, Ronnie James Dio fans have been patiently waiting for an autobiography that he had begun work on prior to his passing in 2010 from stomach cancer. Now, we have finally received Rainbow in the Dark: The Autobiography. First off, readers should know that the idea behind the book was to recount the story of the legendary metal vocalist (real name: Ronald James Padavona) from birth up until his fulfillment of a lifelong career dream, when Dio headlined Madison Square Garden in 1986 (as the leader of his eponymous band). The book was not completed before Dio’s passing, but with the help of his wife/manager, Wendy Dio, and respected rock journalist Mick Wall, the missing bits have been filled in commendably. As a reader of many rock autobiographies over the years, I must admit that I ...
