Mudvayne‘s “L.D. 50“ will be turning 20 next year, but it looks like the band don’t have anything planned to celebrate the anniversary. During a recent appearance on the “Everblack” podcast, Chad Gray was asked if the group were planning something and he responded by saying that he has “no idea.”
Gray said the following:
“I have no idea. I know it’s a big deal for a lot of people, man. The band is probably bigger now than it’s ever been — honestly. So I know that it’s a big moment.
“Me and the guys [in Mudvayne] still talk. Everybody is cool. But every single one of ’em understand that I’m doing what I’m doing and I’m doing it for a fucking reason.”
The frontman went on to say that he is currently focusing on HELLYEAH and honoring Vinnie Paul:
“I’m on a mission right now to carry the torch for not only my brother, my drummer, one of my best friends, childhood hero but a mentor of mine.”
“I’m here to carry his torch — for him, for his brother, for Jeff Hanneman, for Paul Gray, for Layne Staley, for fucking Chester Bennington, for fucking Chris Cornell — for all of ’em. Lemmy, Ronnie James [Dio]… I mean, you name it.
I think that they were all so gracious and selfless that they left us all behind their music to be able to get through the rest of our lives with. Their music helped us get as far as we are now, and they left it for us.
And I think we need to embrace that. And I’m going to carry this torch with my band and my metal family that is worldwide. And we’re gonna do it together, man. And it’s gonna be a lot of fun.”
Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper, etc.) has revealed that she has started working on her second solo album. The guitarist told Heavy1 TV the following:
“I wrote the majority of ‘Controlled Chaos’ while I was on the previous Alice Cooper tour, so I’m falling right back into the pattern of writing my album on days off. I’ve got my Pro Tools rig out here, so I’m just writing and recording. And we’ll do some more clinics, do some more solo touring, do some more touring with Alice, and then I’m hopeful for a second album release in late 2020.”
Being As An Ocean have cancelled their headlining North American tour. The band issued the following statement:
“Hey guys, due to personal circumstances beyond the band’s control we have had to cancel and reschedule the upcoming North American tour dates. Europe/UK dates will remain as planned. We love you, we miss you, and we’ll see you soon 🖤 😔 Tickets purchased may be refunded at the point of sale.”
Time for the next edition of Metal Anarchy’s “new music showcase,” the feature where I introduce you to bands that readers of this site may find interesting. This time I have an exclusive Q&A with These Fast Times.
METAL ANARCHY: Tell me a little about your band:
THESE FAST TIMES: These Fast Times are a four-piece punk-rock band formed from the ashes of multiple bad decisions, misspent youth and a unified-need to cause a major ruckus at any given time. Armed with the fuzziest of distorted guitars, relentless pounding drums, p-h-a-t bass-lines and a whole lot of screaming with a little bit of vocal-melody included – These Fast Times are continually finding ways to overwhelm, offend & entertain their audience through all of their five senses.
The rotting-core of the band’s line-up currently includes Jeffrey Vuorela (Vocals, Guitar), Jason Bellefontaine (Bass, Vocals), Thomas Kolofsky (Lead Guitar) and Ryan Kennedy (Drums). Each member got started in the usual way…they got into music early-on in life etc. etc., started bands, ended bands and experienced all the hardships necessary to put a massive punk-chip on their shoulders. Officially combining their talents & stank of desperation together in 2015, These Fast Times have gone on to fill up the space in front of them with fans of true-punk and drain many a beer-can since.
Discovering quickly that they could stand each other’s personalities, energy, and smell – These Fast Times shut themselves away in the studio and began to write, create & refine. Even the band-members were now able to vouch for their music as ‘not half-bad’ finally…and though perhaps reluctantly, pride in their dirty punk-rock sound began to take hold of these four from Montreal…
The results of the writing and recording session became the six new songs released by These Fast Times on their self-titled record released in February, 2016. Playing shows to support the album all throughout the year.
These Fast Times ready to show up right to your own bloody front door if it means they can play another show before they all croak. Main reason being…somewhere along the lines, all four members of the band realized that the music they were making…as grimy and dirty as it might be…was music that NEEDED to be played…music that the people WANTED to hear.
Make no mistake – These Fast Times don’t put themselves through all the shit that comes along with being in a punk-rock band for their own enjoyment. NO! it’s a far more selfless act. They do it for YOU. Come get some!
METAL ANARCHY: Who are your main influences?
THESE FAST TIMES: We all grew up listing to pop-punk like Blink 182, Sum 41, and New Found Glory. We all like the same music but love different bands. Some of our biggest influences are Bouncing Souls, Foo Fighters, Gaslight Anthem, Against Me!, Andrew W.K., Blink 182, Amber Pacific, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dropkick Murphys and Rancid. pretty much anything fast, aggressive and LOUD!.
METAL ANARCHY: What is your latest release and why should readers of this site check it out?
THESE FAST TIMES: We’re currently working on our 3rd album but as for our latest one, “On The Other Side Of Fear,” the songs are about infidelity, losing touch with the person your with and dealing with the fear of loss. We’ve all had to deal with a crippling fear and uncertainty and we’ve been looking for answers to questions that don’t necessarily have any. Fear is what keeps us from the progress we all deserve and whether it’s painful or not, life is an experience and most importantly it’s short and ever fleeting. Pay attention to the good moments and taking in the lessons from the bad. We have to listen to ourselves, and find what we want from our lives, and make sure they’re not clouded with illusionary obstacles that cripple our right to be happy. All this and more can be found on our album “On The Other Side Of Fear”.
METAL ANARCHY: What can people expect when they go to your live shows?
THESE FAST TIMES: A bunch of old men with or without shirts trying so hard to play music as fast as they can. Lol. We try to give it our all at every show. We try to get the crowd involved and we try to make sure the crowd is as entertained a possible.
METAL ANARCHY: Where do you see your band heading in 5 years?
THESE FAST TIMES: TAKING OVER THE WORLD! But seriously, as a band we’d like to do a European tour and/or a cross Canada tour. We’d also like to play more festivals and just continue writing as much new music as we can.
During their September 19 show in Philadelphia, PA, Delain performed their new song “Burning Bridges” live for the first time. You can see fan-filmed footage of that below. An official video for “Burning Bridges” is expected to be released on September 27.
As you are probably well aware of by now, Ozzy Osbourne postponed all of his 2019 dates due to injury. While dealing with a bout of pneumonia, the singer fell in his Los Angeles home and aggravated previous injuries he sustained in his 2003 ATV accident. Now, Osbourne’s daughter Kelly has offered an update his health while talking to the PA news agency: “He’s on the mend. He’s getting there. It’s been a process, but he’s definitely getting there.” She also added the following when asked when Ozzy will return to the stage: “Soon. I can’t say exactly what, but soon. There’s something coming up.” This news comes after the frontman recently confirmed that his new album is done.
