Eye Of Melian, the Tolkien-inspired project founded by Martijn Westerholt (Delain) and Johanna Kurkela (Auri), have premiered a new video for their new song “Blackthorn Winter.” This track is from the band’s new album, “Forest Of Forgetting,” which will be released on February 20.
Kurkela commented on the single:
“‘Blackthorn Winter’ ended up becoming a very personal song to me after writing the lyrics about living here in Finland, where winter feels like it never ends and summer is the best day of the year.”
Westerholt also added the following about the album:
“This album has been a really inspiring process — both for me as a songwriter and in what each of us brought to it. It has a lot of what Eye Of Melian is known for: cinematic, score-like arrangements, minor chords, and those epic, mysterious atmospheres. The lyrics tie everything together; they bring out the worlds and stories that the music hints at and make the whole thing feel complete. The collaboration between us on this record felt very natural. We’ve really found our way of working as a team, and I’m proud of what we created together.”
“Forest Of Forgetting” Track Listing:
01. “Of Willows And Shadows”
02. “Symphonia Arcana”
03. “Child Of Twilight”
04. “Elixir Of Night” (feat. Patty Gurdy and Troy Donockley)
05. “Blackthorn Winter”
06. “Lady Of Light”
07. “Dawn Of Avatars” (feat. Patty Gurdy and Troy Donockley)
08. “Forest Of Forgetting”
09. “The Buried Well”
10. “The Mirror”
11. “Nepenthe”
12. “Tears Of The Dragon” (Bruce Dickinson cover)
Tour Dates:
03/10 Kitee, FIN – Kiteesali
03/12 Espoo, FIN – Sellosali
03/13 Kouvola, FIN – Pato-klubi
03/18 Rovaniemi, FIN – Korundi
03/19 Kuusamo, FIN – Kuusamo-talo
03/20 Oulu, FIN – Kaupunginteatteri
03/21 Raahe, FIN – Raahesali
03/24 Helsinki, FIN – Aleksanterin Teatteri
03/26 Turku, FIN – Turun Linnan Kuninkaansali
03/27 Kuopio, FIN – Maxim
03/28 Tampere, FIN – Tuulensuun Palatsi
Jay Buchanan (Rival Sons) has announced that he will be releasing a new solo album, titled “Weapons Of Beauty,” on February 6. A video for the effort’s first single, “Caroline,” can be found below. Pre-orders can be found HERE.
“Weapons Of Beauty” Track Listing:
01. “Caroline”
02. “High And Lonesome”
03. “True Black”
04. “Tumbleweeds”
05. “Shower Of Roses”
06. “Deep Swimming”
07. “Sway”
08. “The Great Divide”
09. “Dance Me To The End Of Love”
10. “Weapons Of Beauty”
Buchanan worked on the album in an underground, windowless bunker in the Mojave Desert. He said the following about that experience:
“The silence was both terrifying and liberating. A caterpillar knows when it’s time to get into the cocoon.”
He added:
“As music continues to be choked out by technology, I wanted to draw pictures in the dirt. This approach is right with me, and I’ve just come to a point where there is no longer a choice. ‘Weapons Of Beauty’ is the sound of these plates shifting within me, too loud to ignore. Surprisingly, I’ve never known a vulnerability to feel so empowering.”
He also discussed “Caroline,” which serves as an “aching letter to a lost home or lover”:
“I suppose that writing about unquenchable grief allows you a kind of permission to pay respect to those deep chasms in your life without wallowing in them. Putting it in a song lets you buy the ticket and take the ride — and then move on.”
He also commented on filming the video in gold mines:
“I can see a parallel here, spending twelve hours deep in the earth, trying to mine our own treasure, knowing full well so many have perished in those same caves chasing a future cut dangerously short. That’s a hell of a way to spend a Sunday!”
Buchanan also revealed that he recruited director Scott Cooper to sequence the album after appearing in his Bruce Springsteen biopic “Deliver Me From Nowhere”:
“More than anything, it was just a really good hang. I played a band leader, so no acting there. Being on stage together playing music was about bringing Jeremy [Allen White] into my world, and being on camera in a film was about him bringing me into his. It was amazing. Jeremy and Scott [Cooper] made me feel like I belonged there — and that was just what I needed.
On the flight home after the film wrapped, Scott and I had a conversation that stayed with me as I went directly to the desert. I don’t want to get too personal, but we were kind of living on opposite sides of the same coin that day, and he was the last person I spoke to before my desert exile. Months later, the night the record was finished, when I listened to the playback for the first time, I immediately thought of him sequencing it. The whole undertaking had left me so raw that the pan was just too hot for me to pick up. I knew I could trust him — if he’d help me.”
Buchanan also discussed the album cover, which was painted by artist Jeremy Lipking:
“Jeremy Lipking is an old friend and family on my wife’s side. We’ve been wanting to work together forever. He was the only person to hear some of my demos direct from the desert. I told him I was writing a Jeremy Lipking painting. It was important to me that the music have a scenic quality — the America I’ve seen over decades of touring: lonesome sunsets, big-clouded skies, silhouetted by our dreams and failures.”
Halestorm have released a new two-track bundle. The EP includes a live version of “How Will You Remember Me?” and a live version of “Like A Woman Can” featuring Apocalyptica. The original versions of those tracks appear on the band’s latest album “Everest.” Halestorm commented:
“We’re so excited to announce that we just dropped two tracks live from the ‘nEVEREST’ tour!!! Go enjoy ‘How Will You Remember Me?’ live and a special live version of ‘Like A Woman Can’ featuring our good friends from our North American tour Apocalyptica. This is only a preview of what you will experience on the ‘nEVEREST’ tour! So go grab your tickets today to catch us is Europe and the UK!”
Ozzy Osbourne’s widow Sharon and their children, Kelly and Jack, have just released a new episode of “The Osbournes” podcast. The show finds them opening up about the singer’s death and the outpouring of support they received. The trio also revealed that they even received condolences from U.S. president Donald Trump and the UK’s King Charles III.
Sharon said the following:
“I feel so bad. So many people have reached out to us. I mean, it’s just been overwhelmingly wonderful, everybody’s reaction, for the loss of Ozzy. And it’s just been overwhelming, and I feel so bad. Everybody’s reached out to us that we know that we love, thousands and thousands of people who we’ve never met, and I just want everybody to know that everything that has been sent to us we’ve read, we appreciate.”
Kelly also commented:
“The outpouring of love has been so helpful to us. I never could have even imagined it to be as helpful as it has been, to know that we are not alone in our grief and our sadness, and that the rest of the world loved him as much as we did.”
After Jack asked if all of the love and support “added a different element to it”, Kelly continued:
“I haven’t seen an outpouring like that since Princess Diana died. I didn’t expect it.”
Jack also shared his thoughts:
“But it definitely added a different element to it. For me, it was almost a beautiful, but also unexpected, strange… ‘Cause I said this the other day — I was doing an interview for Dad’s book, and what I said was, when you grow up — every child does this — you’re, like, ‘I wonder what’s gonna happen when my dad’s gonna die. I wonder what’s gonna happen when my mom dies.’ It’s just normal, I think; everyone has those thoughts. And it never crossed my mind that it would impact anyone kind of outside of… I didn’t think it was gonna be like it was.”
Kelly added:
“It wasn’t just the heavy metal community. It was the entire world.”
Sharon went on to say Ozzy had no idea he was so loved:
“I just think, all of it, I just think, my God, Ozzy would just be… It was hard for him to take the show because he didn’t realize how much he was loved, and that was his beauty, because he never took it for granted from anyone. He never took it for granted, ‘I’m this, I’m that.’ He had no idea. He was so living in his bubble. He never had any idea how much people loved him, admired him. Even if they didn’t like his music, they liked him. And he was just larger than life. He was one in a zillion.”
Jack also commented on receiving condolences from Donald Trump:
“Love him or hate him, [Trump] didn’t have to call and leave a voicemail.”
Sharon concurred:
“Listen, when it comes to politics, we know nobody comes out a winner. Whoever you like, half of people are gonna [be unhappy], and now it’s more so than ever in history, that people’s choice of which party, which politician… You can’t come out a winner. All I know is a man that I know, I worked with for a month — I spent one month with him and his wife, who was always gracious, elegant, just a delight to talk to, his wife. And he was always, ‘How are the children? How’s Kelly? I’m so proud of Kelly and Jack for what they’ve done. And their manners are great.’ And he was just a great guy to talk to, and he has always treated me with respect.
Listen, I’m not American. I can’t vote. I don’t wanna vote. I don’t vote for anyone. I vote for no one. Never have, never will. But this thing is, all I know is he’s treated me with respect, your father with respect. He wanted nothing from us — nothing. [His wife] Melania, the same. Nothing. And they have been great. And for him to take his time to do that for us, and because, do you know what? He doesn’t live in a bubble. He knows what’s going on in the streets. He knows what is going on. And I can’t say that for our prime minister [in the United Kingdom]. Again, for President Trump and Melania, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Jack also mentioned “a lovely letter” they got from King Charles III. Sharon chimed in as well:
“Our King. Now we’re talking. Our King, he’s an amazing person. He is an amazing person. Not just because he wrote to us when Ozzy passed, but if he did it for us, you know he does it for many, many, many people. Now here’s a man that does know what’s going on in the street with people. Not just politics, not just… Here’s a man that cares about the environment, animals. He cares about many, many, many things, and he’s got a good heart. He’s got a good heart. He didn’t have to do certain things that he’s done for Ozzy. In the past — Ozzy’s birthday, when Ozzy was sick in hospital with the motorbike accident, he reached out. He’s a good, caring man with a good heart, and Ozzy’s, as me, we are royalists, and that’s it. We respect him, we respect his family, and that’s it. And he, again, took the time out of his day to write us, have it hand delivered to us, a note from the King for Ozzy’s passing with his condolences, and that says so much.”
Mothica has signed a new deal with SharpTone Records. With this news, the singer has also released a new song titled “Evergreen Misery.” You can find a video for that track below:
Mothica commented:
“Writing ‘Evergreen Misery’ was a journey full of every twist and turn you could imagine. I was a few months out of rehab and I needed to release this simmering anger and deep melancholy that I was numbing for so long.
Getting swept up into the underbelly of the music industry took a huge toll on my mental health. When I checked into a 30-day treatment program, I was ready to leave music entirely. The behind the scenes stirs up a lot of animosity, envy and sorts of ugly emotions. I took a step back to focus on my recovery, and finally felt ready to reconnect with the pure feeling of writing music again.
The lyrics are a reflection of some energy vampires I’ve had in my life. People I let into my life who tried to borrow elements of my story as their own, knowing they didn’t experience the pain my art stems from. There’s a dark humor in that for me, this idea of ‘take what you want from me, my misery is bottomless’ — which is a bit dramatic, but that’s how it felt.
I knew I wanted to step into a heavier era with this next release, which my fans have deemed ‘Rockica’ with my releases like ‘Nocturnal,’ my Polyphia collab, or my Bring Me The Horizon remix. I grew up going to metalcore shows and it finally felt like the right time to pull from that side of myself. I love Nine Inch Nails, Sleep Token, Bad Omens, Wage War, Bring Me the Horizon, Evanescence, and so many other artists in the scene that combine cinematic synths, gritty guitars and big emotional hooks. Working with my producer Elliot Polokoff helped me carve out what this era sounds like, and what flavor of rock felt undeniably true for Mothica.
While writing this new era of music, I knew I was taking a step in a different sonic direction. The entire team at SharpTone Records really saw my vision with both the music and the visuals I create. I’m so excited to announce this partnership with SharpTone Records to elevate the next evolution of Mothica.”
Candlebox have announced a headlining U.S. tour. Nick Brown will open on select dates.
Tour Dates:
02/25 Portland, ME – Aura (with Nick Brown)
02/26 Derry, NH – Tupelo Music Hall (with Nick Brown)
02/27 Mashantucket, CT – Foxwoods
02/28 Charles Town, WV – Hollywood Casino
03/03 Flint, MI – The Machine Shop (with Nick Brown)
03/05 Harrisburg, PA – Capitol City Music Hall (with Nick Brown)
03/06 Bensalem, PA – Xcite Center At Parx Casino
03/07 Danville, VA – The Pantheon At Caesars VA
03/08 Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall (with Nick Brown)
03/10 Lexington, KY – Manchester Music Hall (with Nick Brown)
03/11 Evansville, IN – Victory Theatre (with Nick Brown)
03/13 Biloxi, MS – Hard Rock Live
03/14 Bossier City, LA – Paradise Theater At Margaritaville
03/15 Little Rock, AR – The Hall (with Nick Brown)
03/17 Nashville, TN – Brown County Event Center (with Nick Brown)
03/18 Springfield, IL – Boondocks (with Nick Brown)
03/20 Sioux City, IA – Anthem At Hard Rock Hotel
03/21 Kansas City, MO – Star Pavilion At Ameristar
More bands have been added to next year’s Roadburn festival. You can find the updated lineup below. As previously reported, the event will be held in Tilburg, NET on April 16-19
Lineup:
Agriculture (performing “The Spiritual Sound“)
Ak’chamel
Aya
Backengrillen (Refused)
Billy Woods
Blackwater Holylight (performing “Not Here Not Gone“)
Coalesce
Crippling Alcoholism
Habak
Haress
Heaven In Her Arms (performing “White Halo” & The End Of Purification“)
Inter Arma (performing “The Cavern“)
Kiss The Anus Of A Black Cat
Kowloon Walled City
Krallice (artist in residence)
Mandy, Indiana
Maruja
Milkweed
Oathbreaker (performing “Rheia“)
Orcutt Sheller Miller
Pain Magazine
Primitive Man (performing “Observance” & “Rememberance“)
Prostitute
Quest Master
RÓIS
Saetia
Shearling
SLIFT
Slow Crush (performing “Aurora” & “Thirst“)
Slowhole
Truck Violence
Unsane (performing “Occupational Hazard“)
Warning
World Peace
Chris Steele, the nephew of Death’s Chuck Schuldiner, has taken to Instagram to share the late frontman’s instrumental cover of Madonna’s “Frozen.” You can check that out below. Steele said the following about the track:
“Found this today going through some things. Chuck recorded this in the early stages of his battle with cancer, I remember it well. Chuck sitting in his bedroom with his stealth and a drum machine. I’m not sure how many people outside of the family and a few friends have heard this but it’s all yours. Chuck’s version of Madonna’s 1998 single ‘Frozen‘.”
During his November 9 set at the “Love Ride” charity motorcycle event at Castaic Lake in Southern California, Gene Simmons paid tribute to his former KISS bandmate Ace Frehley. The bassist/vocalist also confirmed that the band intend to leave an empty seat for the late guitarist during the upcoming Kennedy Center Honors event.
Simmons said the following:
“I wanna take a moment just to tell you that somebody I’ve known for many decades who started the band with us, a guy named Ace Frehley…
Very sad. Paul [Stanley] and myself and Peter Criss, we went to Ace’s funeral. He sadly passed. And the saddest part of all, besides the pain and suffering to his friends, family, his daughter, his wife, his whole family, is that Ace didn’t live long enough to be with us on December 6th when the president and everybody’s gonna get up there and honor KISS in entering the Kennedy Center Honors. And the first person who’s gonna walk out there and talk about how KISS changed his life is [country star] Garth Brooks, who’s gonna host a little bit. Then he’s gonna play ‘Shout It Out Loud’ and knock it out of the park. And in Ace’s memory, we’re gonna make sure one of the four chairs is empty with Ace’s name, because he deserves to be there in spirit, even if he can’t be there physically.
So, one day Ace walked in. The very first song he ever wrote we’re gonna do now. It’s called ‘Cold Gin’.”
Metal Anarchy 
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