It appears Testament are already working on material for a follow-up to “Para Bellum.” According to Chuck Billy, the band have “close to nine tracks” so far.
Billy told Appetite For Distortion the following:
“Writing with Eric [Peterson] and Chris [Dovas] now, just really delivering a lot of tunes right now, we’re in a good place where we’re probably gonna deliver records every couple of years instead of every four years at this pace right now, which is a good thing for us.
For us, where we’re at in our life and our careers, there’s a lot of new bands, a lot of new music coming up… ‘Cause we get inspired by what new bands and people are doing. We can’t go out and be that, because we don’t wanna mimic it, but we can definitely be inspired by it, and I think we’ve done that kind of in our last record. Some of those songs have a more modern flair, just of the influence, I guess.”
He continued:
“Some of those songs, especially with Chris, [he’ll] bring it to Eric, more bands like Lorna Shore or more real death stuff. Chris really loves his death metal, and he likes playing fast. And Eric loves black metal and loves playing fast, so it’s a good combination for the two of them because Eric loves that way and Chris loves to play that way. So it’s a good marriage to what they’re doing, and it doesn’t take long for Eric and Chris to mold out a song. They’re just really in a good writing groove right now. So I think they got maybe good close to nine tracks [for the next Testament album] that they brought over to me to start listening to. So we’re way ahead of the game. Hopefully, I think next summer is our goal to get in to start recording the record. So we’ll see what happens from now until then.”
He also added the following about experimenting without straying from the band’s sound:
“In our music, I think we’re beyond trying to prove a point. When you’re a younger band, you’re playing hard and fast and give it your best shot right now. People are listening. We wrote a lot of records and a lot of songs where it’s more about writing for what really inspires us or makes us feel good, or especially when we’re trying new things that we haven’t done before, especially on these last couple of records, so especially vocally I’m trying some new stuff, finding some new voices and tones that I haven’t used, which I think’s pretty cool after 40 years to still be able to be pushed to an uncomfortable spot, but still to be pushed to something where it’s being creative for us and for me as a vocalist, trying different things, which is fun. It’s kind of exciting to, like, ‘Okay, well, what else can I do or push to?’ And then take those newer bands that are influencing [us], just real heavy shit, going, ‘Okay, well, how can I incorporate some of the stuff that is happening now?’, [that] people are loving, which I used to do in the past, that I could still do, and maybe try to cross it together with what I did and what people are doing. Maybe it’d strike a nerve a little. I don’t know.”
[via Blabbermouth]
Sharon Osbourne, widow of the late Ozzy Osbourne, has shared her support for Marilyn Manson amid the sexual assault allegations against him. She says she doesn’t believe he did what he was accused of.
Sharon discussed the allegations during a recent episode of “The Osbournes” podcast:
“Manson is a great artist. I don’t care what anybody says and now I’ll get all these complaints, ‘He abuses women.’ Well, women abuse men. And you know what the thing that gets me is? Did Marilyn ever try and be light and breezy, and you know a surfer guy? No. You know what you were getting yourself into.”
She continued:
“You’re begging to get on somebody’s tour bus. You’re begging to get near them and be photographed. And then you know what? What did you expect? And the thing is, I don’t think that he did what they said. You know what I feel about Marilyn. He’s a friend and always will be. And I don’t believe half of it.”
Her and her son Jack also added:
Sharon: “I can tell you one of the people that was suing him — major part of it — we were sat Soho House one night, and she went on the floor under the table and gave him a blowjob. He never asked for it, she just did it.”
Jack: “While you were with her?”
Sharon: “Yeah. And I was with [manager/film producer] Andy Gould. That’s why I’m like, ‘Hey, there’s two sides to every story here. You leave him alone.”
Jack: “That’s one way to end a meal.”
Sharon: “Yeah, dessert.”
Jack: “Wow. At Soho House? …Watch, you’re going to get called in now. Now you’re gonna get called into the all the all the proceedings. That’s fucking nuts.”
[via The PRP]
Upon A Burning Body have been forced to drop off the remaining dates on their tour with DevilDriver and Ov Sulfur. The band pulled out of the trek after some members of their camp tested positive for COVID-19.
The group commented:
“IMPORTANT UPDATE
Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances and the safety of others, we will not be playing the remainder of the ‘Strike & Kill Tour.’
Some of our camp has tested positive for COVID and it just wouldn’t be right to continue putting everyone else at risk.
We are sorry, and it hurts us to not be able to play these shows. We promise to make it up to everyone soon.
Thank you for understanding.
-UABB & CREW”
Last night (August 28), Twisted Sister kicked off their 50th anniversary tour with a headlining show at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ. The concert also served as the live debut of the band’s new touring lineup, which features guitarists Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda, singer Sebastian Bach (ex-Skid Row), bassist Russell Pzütto, and drummer Joey Cassata. You can see fan-filmed footage of the full set below:
During a recent interview with Chaoszine, Tuomas Holopainen confirmed that Nightwish will record a new album in 2027. Sessions will begin in May.
Holopainen said the following:
“ Since the release of [Nightwish’s latest album, 2024’s] ‘Yesterwynde’, it’s all been about music in my life, and I’ve absolutely loved it. First, we recorded the third Auri album [Holopainen’s project with his wife Johanna Kurkela and Nightwish multi-instrumentalist Troy Donockley], ‘[III -] Candles & Beginnings’, did a tour with it. After that, I have been working with an upcoming solo album that will be released at some point next year. All the songs are done and recorded, and at the moment we are just doing the orchestrations with [English conductor, orchestrator and composer] Mr. James Shearman, and we’re gonna record them in London later this year. So the album should be ready by spring ’27. And also I have been working on the next Nightwish album for the past months, and we are entering the studio next May. So we’re doing good in there as well.”
He also discussed Nightwish’s touring hiatus:
“The break has really been good for us because I just feel like the songs are coming like never before. I’m really, really excited both for the next Nightwish album and the solo thing. So nothing but good times.”
In a separate interview with Bear Wiseman, he also confirmed he has seven songs written for Nightwish’s album. He commented on his inspirations as well:
“In a broader spectrum, the same things as always before. The world around us. People, they are so inspiring. Some books I’ve read, some films I’ve seen. So many things. But it’s a bit early to go there. All I can say at this point is that it’s happening next year. A lot of songs done already, lot more songs to be done, and I’m just in a very good place of bringing them home with the whole band.”
[via Blabbermouth]
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