GRAND SLAM co-founding member Laurence Archer, and frontman Mike Dyer, make it extraordinarily clear that theirs has been a true journey of destiny, one where early unions ended up leaving unfinished business on the table, and one which finally sees GRAND SLAM attending to said business with the brand-new album ‘Wheel Of Fortune.’ Their story is one of persistence and craft, ensuring that the best elements of GRAND SLAM’s history were absorbed and fused with the experiences and drive of relationships stretching decades. However, do not make the mistake of thinking this is a band returning from a past: it’s a band fulfilling their present and future with willfulness and desire that permeate every song on ‘Wheel Of Fortune’, from Archer’s faultless, fearless fret-driven song architecture on “Spitfire” to Dyer’s swagger and style on “There Goes My Heart.” There are moments such as “Come Together (In Harlem)” where the moody strut of original co-founder Phil Lynott is unmistakable, yet the multi-layered steamy swing of “Pirate Song” makes it very clear where GRAND SLAM is coming from. “I want everybody to see this as a new band… and anybody that hasn’t heard GRAND SLAM since 1984, I want them to see this as a fresh invigoration of the project moving into the modern times.” – Laurence Archer Joined by Benjy Reid on drums and Rocky Newton on bass, some best-laid plans for the band’s rebirth were set for take-off until Covid-19 brought the world to a standstill (it is one of the main reasons ‘Hit The Ground’ will also be enjoying a 2024 release alongside ‘Wheel Of Fortune’). However, the creative fire and will to propel GRAND SLAM got stronger still. “We have a direction that is in my heart. It’s a tribal place. This band is something very special; I’m slightly biased I know, but God, I’m really proud of that.” – Mike Dyer Out now, “There Goes My Heart” is the first single to be released from GRAND SLAM’s brand new studio album, ‘Wheel Of Fortune.’ “Laurence sent me ‘There Goes My Heart’, and with total respect to Laurence, I’m not a man of ‘hearts’ in that sense,” chuckles Dyer. “So instead of singing about the ex, I twisted on it. It sounds like your heart, but what you’re singing about is your E-Type Jag. We shot the video for that in Spain, and that very much has a twist in it too.”
Video Directed, Produced and Edited by Paul M Green
‘Wheel Of Fortune‘ is a testimony to both Archer’s songwriting architecture and Dyer’s powerful love of language: he wastes no time sinking his teeth into the storytelling aspect of the songs, from WWII fighter pilots to ethereal reflections on lost loved ones and near-death experiences, Dyer is a supreme storyteller. “The way I look at it is that from writing those songs with Phil in 1984 to now, my writing style and the way I write, haven’t really changed that much,” offers Archer. “I’m not a shredder, I prefer to write songs and build that way. So, there’s that timeless continuity in how I write, fusing with all the experiences we’ve had as people over the years. “I put the basis of the song together, I have a rough melody line, I might write the chorus line, and I give that to Mike who goes away and comes back with his thing: it’s not my thing, it’s his thing and it just works! His vocal tone – his ability – fits everything that I write.” ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ will be released in digital and physical formats on June 7th. The album will be available in a variety of formats and pre-orders can be placed HERE
GRAND SLAM will also re-release their debut album ‘Hit The Ground.’ Originally released in 2019, the record has been given a makeover. “I stopped playing for a while and started a film career,” recounts Archer of ‘Hit The Ground.’ “ In 2018 I was working on location in Guadalupe, and I arrived at the decision to record the GRAND SLAM songs properly, because essentially, what has been out there has not really been representative of what we did back then. Phil and I had done some work-in-progress demos in his backyard studio, and unfortunately, someone stole them and released them. So, it’s always been a goal of mine to re-visit those songs and do them properly, and I had been thinking about showcasing them fittingly for over 30 years, instead of hearing these horrible demos that people put out.” Re-mixed, re-mastered, and featuring new artwork, ‘Hit The Ground – Revised,’ will be released on May 10th in digital formats and June 7th in physical formats. Pre-orders can be placed HERE With GRAND SLAM having just completed videos for the new album in Spain, a series of dates being planned as you read, and an overall joy at everything going on in their world, GRAND SLAM will be here whether you are or not, because this is not a band rumbling in from their past, it’s a band firing forward into their future. “We have a strong bond in our writing and our perception of what we want to do,” concludes Archer, “so make no mistake, GRAND SLAM has only just started.”
‘Wheel Of Fortune’ Track List: 1. There Goes My Heart 2. Starcrossed Lovers 3. Come Together (In Harlem) 4. Trail Of Tears 5. Feeling Is Strong (Jo’s Song) 6. Spitfire 7. I Wanna Know! 8. Pirate Song 9. Afterlife 10. Wheel Of Fortune
‘Hit The Ground – Revised’ Track List: 1. Gone Are The Days 2. Nineteen 3. Hit The Ground 4. Military Man 5. Crazy 6. Dedication 7. Long Road 8. Sisters Of Mercy 9. Crime Rate 10. Grand Slam**not available on vinyl
GRAND SLAM:Mike Dyer – vocals, Laurence Archer – guitars, Benjy Reid – drums, Rocky Newton – bass. ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ is Produced by Laurence Archer, Engineered by Pieter Rietkerk. Mixed by Laurence Archer. Mastered by Matt Wortham & Andy Pearce. Recorded atChapel Studios; additional recording at Manamana Studios
Troy Redfern releases “The Calling” single ahead of Headline UK Tour
Troy Redfern’s rockin’ new single was released March 1. It is taken from the upcoming album Invocation, to be released May 17. Check it out! STREAM SINGLE (or watch the video).
“Redfern has written excellent new songs that define his unique style as one of the most exciting blues artists in Britain.” – Raw Ramp
“Troy Redfern is dynamic, powerful and one of the best slide guitarists around today.” – Music News Invocation is the title of the highly anticipated new 11-track album from slide guitar virtuoso Troy Redfern. The album, released by RED7 Records on Friday 17th May 2024, is now available in limited edition colored vinyl, black vinyl, plus two different CD cover artwork designs. All formats are available to pre-order from www.troyredfern.com.
The fourth single “The Calling” is available on Spotify HERE. The IRSC code for the single is UKHDU1600077.
Says Troy, “‘I’ve always wanted to write a slow motion, epic kind of a tune. The Calling was a song that was born out of that desire. This song is about escaping the technological net we all live in, and to get out into the wilderness to reset and get perspective on what’s important in life.”
Troy has proved time and time again that his cup of inspiration is not only full, but runneth over, writing and release albums at an unprecedented pace and judging by the strength of “The Calling” and the three previous singles “The Strange,” “Getaway” and “The Fever,” the forthcoming album Invocation, promises to be his best yet. Over the course of last two albums The Fire Cosmic (2021) and Wings of Salvation (2022) Troy found his true voice stylistically in terms of writing and playing, but with Invocation he created a collection of outstanding new songs that carves out his own identity as to who he really is an artist.
Troy head to the west Wales coast with his trusty 1929 National Triolian resonator guitar for a week of solitude in a remote Sheppard’s hut to sketch the initial song ideas for the new album.
“It was important for me to clear my mind of all distractions so I could really focus on what I wanted to write on this album and the direction I wanted to take it in,” says Troy.
“I tried some unorthodox approaches to song writing that included meditation where I would imagine hearing a song in my mind, as complete as possible including visualizing the performance live. Next, I would pick up the guitar and capture the idea on my phone. That way I wasn’t led by what I would usually do when I pick up the guitar. It was a very freeing, powerful experience, and a discipline that I’ll use again to write more songs in the future.“
With Invocation Troy explores fresh musical territory, from the heavy, bone crushing slide riffs and big sing along choruses on “Van Helsing” and “Getaway” to the evocative, wind-swept western landscapes of “The Native” and “Blind Me.” After three albums in three years Troy continues to expand his musical horizons and keep his creative fire burning.
SAXON released Hell, Fire, And Damnation in January, the band’s 24th studio album (excluding their 2 recent collections of covers). if you haven’t heard the new album, it is one of the band’s best in the past few decades (well, their best since 1999’s Metalhead, for me). See my review elsewhere on this site. In this conversation, Biff discusses the band’s change in guitar players, the songs and artwork for Hell, Fire and Damnation, and the band’s upcoming US tour (co-headlining w/ Uriah Heep).
*Check out the links and tour dates below.
First of all, the new album if you can tell me a bit about the title where the what inspired the title and the title song obviously in that context. I posted a review the other day.
Yeah, the first song’s about the battle between good and evil, really, that’s been going on for 1000s of years. I suppose it’s based on the prophecy, you know like the Omen films, that type of thing. I suppose it was good to write a song about good and evil and just a lot of bands just write about devils and demons and things, or occult. And it’s a saying my dad used to use when he was upset – ‘hell, fire and damnation’. That’s where the title came from, the idea for the words, anyway.
You got Brian in the band now. Prior to, when Paul announced he was leaving did you have Brian in mind already, when that came up?
Paul’s been thinking about leaving for some time. I think when we were touring during that particular period, he was quite tired and not really into metal music anymore. So he just wanted to play blues music and relax a bit. So that’s what he wanted to do. So we asked Brian – Brian was the first guy we asked actually. And the thing about Brian, is apart from Metallica connection, you know, the songs that they recorded of his; He’s a bit sort of frustrated, writing great riffs and things and playing great guitar and not being able to play in front of a lot of people, so he jumped at the chance to join Saxon. He’s still in Diamond Head, but he’s really enjoying himself, you know, getting the sort of interest that he deserves.
Yeah, did that change kind of give you guys a bit of a spark with the new album, so I think it’s great album. It’s very consistent, the songs are really good.
Well he wrote the title track with me, we wrote that time together – “Hell, Fire and Damnation”, so he’s come in to the band and done some writing. So dynamically, we’ve changed a little bit, which I think is for the better really. The album sounds fantastic.
A lot of the songs you write are kind of history lessons or history topics. So I always find myself when I get a Saxon album I gotta go look up something that – ‘what is this moment he’s talking about or this event’?
Haha… A lot of people do Google, you know – if they don’t know what happened in 1066. Or the Salem witches, you can go on Google and Wikipedia it gives you a short story of what it’s all about. I think in that way it’s interesting you know. And some of the Maiden tracks are quite history based. I’m sure some people google and find out what the tale of the “Ancient Mariner” is, you know!?
What kind of inspires each topic that you come up with – is it reading or a book or movie..?
A lot of it’s documentaries and things you see on Netflix or something. I read articles and watch films and things, so I’m always looking for something to write about. I was doodling with a song called “Remember the Alamo” for this album, but it didn’t quite make it. So that might end up on the next album (haha); you never know!
You also had a change with the artwork on this album?
Again, it’s dark and light – good and evil. So I wanted to an album cover that basically mirrored what I was saying in the song really – the fight between good and evil. And I got my friend, the actor. Brian Blessed to do the intro for all sounds pretty precious metal to me. I mean, I do like it.
Now you got Peter Selye doing the artwork this time? That’s first person you’ve had somebody new for, I guess for quite a few years, I guess. We do usually use our other friend Paul Gregory who’s done a lot of albums since Crusader. But he wasn’t able to do this album. So I had an idea, you know, an idea of a cover, and we sent my ideas to different artists. And he (Peter) came back straight away with that concept of you know, the super angel and the shield in the middle of the battle. And it looked really great to me, you know,
How involved are you with each cover from album to album? Is it your ideas?
Yeah, a lot of them are based on my ideas, yeah, and where I think they should from. The album can do what he wants, but it all comes back from an idea I have. They’re not always great, and don’t always work, so we might have to move on to a different cover. but this one is pretty much how I wanted it to be really.
Well it’s a great cover
Looks great on a t-shirt!
And the title is very memorable…
And you can buy a box set with a patch in it, and put it on a jacket, and that’s pretty cool. I’m going to be wearing one of them on stage, I think.
If we can touch on some of the songs, because there’s a lot that stand out on this here for me – “Madame Guillotine”, “Fire And Steel”, “Pirates Of The Airwaves”… Can you tell me a bit about a few of the songs and if you’ve kind of decided or have an idea what you might put into the live show?
“Pirates Of The Airwaves” was based on the ’60s really. When I was a boy listening to music on a little transistor radio because the BBC the British government, wouldn’t allow people to listen to rock music, like The Rolling Stones in the 60s, so we used to listen in our in our bedrooms late at night, midnight, listening to these tracks coming through from these pirate stations. That’s what that song is about. You know, it’s just reminiscing from my youth, really.
“Fire And Steel” is basically it’s about a city in Yorkshire England called Sheffield, and that was a very behemoth city. It’s the place I used to go when I was a teenager to see all the bands. You know I saw David Bowie there, and I saw Uriah Heep, and Deep Purple – all the big bands used to come through this city called Sheffield, and I used to go so that’s what the song’s about really.
And obviously “There’s Something In Roswell”, I think a lot of people know what that’s about already.
Well, I’m a believer. I don’t know about you, but I think there’s something in Roswell. I think something happened there. Roswell was ground zero for UFO enthusiasts. Really.
Do you follow a lot of that stuff?
It’s interesting. I like conspiracy theories. Like something happens and then the government tells you something else. It’s interesting, isn’t it? I mean from Roswell millions of UFO sites and people talk about UFOs, Investigate UFOs, and it all started from Roswell, really.
“Kubla Khan And The Merchant of Venice”?
Again, that’s a bit of a history lesson really. You know Genghis Khan was a big warlord in Europe who conquered most of Europe and some of the Roman Empire. And one of his great grandsons was the Emperor of China, his name was Kubla Khan. And the first guy to go there and write about it was a guy called Marco Polo, who was from Venice. He discovered the Chinese used gunpowder, this fantastic pottery that they used to make – a great story really. I think that’s the most historic song on the album, but you can google it again if you want to find out what it’s about.
You guys are consistently putting out albums, like yearly – even when we were off during the pandemic you still managed to put out the two covers’ albums. What kind of drives you and how important is it to keep putting out new material when there’s a lot of bands at this stage who are just content to do one every five or six years or whatever?
We still have lots of things to prove. And we’re still always trying to write that perfect song on that perfect album. And we’re songwriters basically, well you know, I mean I look at myself as a songwriter not just a singer, so I’m very dedicated to make and produce new material. And then tour with it. We could obviously tour and just do the big hits from the ’80s, but we don’t really want to do that you know; we want to want to make music that’s relevant – you know people like it, like this album’s getting good reviews from around the world. It’s a good feeling you know; it’s good feeling that we can still write great songs – in my opinion that are just as good as the early songs.
Yeah, I like following bands who have something new because it’s easy to fall off if there’s nothing new for a long time right, so yourselves and well Magnum, Uriah Heep… bands have that still put out albums consistently every year Or few years that are well worth having.
I think especially in the metal genre like Saxon, Judas Priest, and Maiden – we put out albums because you know we like to tour on those albums and that’s what really gives us the juice you know that keeps us alive, keeps us feeling young, playing music that’s new. It’s a really great feeling.
You’ve got a tour coming up in the US with Uriah Heep. So a couple things – when you go out on the road for these long journeys, like you’d be out here for a couple of months. What do you guys do? You know, what’s your kind of your routine as far as do you go visit a lot of historic sites yourself and or is it kind of all business?
Well we drink a lot definitely! (haha) And we keep ourselves busy really. And then we don’t have many days off, so, if we have a day off in a cool place then we’ll go off and visit the area or go shopping or something, just to break the monotony of traveling every day. We’re pretty much a family, it’s like a gang on the road. There’s a lot of fun, a lot of joking about, you know, it’s like being out with your friends really, like being out with your mates.
You’re touring with Heep, and you’ve mentioned them before, I know I read you’d picked Demons And Wizards as one of your favorite albums. And you covered “Gypsy” on the last covers album. How far back do you go with them as far as seeing them the first time?
The first time I saw them, I mean, they’ve been going on quite a long time. I didn’t see them in the late ’60s, I must’ve seen them on their second album tour, I think…and I think they were out with Purple. I’d seen them in Sheffield actually. So it must’ve been very early ’70s. But I didn’t need them until much, much later on. Because they weren’t really on our touring circuit, if you know what I mean, in the ’80s. I think they stopped touring the UK in the ’80s and had a bit of a hit in America in the ’80s with one of their albums. (Ed: Abominog, w/Peter Goalby). I didn’t see that band, but I saw Uriah Heep with a guy called John Sloman. Yeah, so I do like Uriah Heep, and I do know them, but we’d see them in restaurants and airports and it’s only in the last 3 or 4 years that we started playing shows together.
Metalhead was kind of my rei-ntroduction to you guys because I know you’d been over here in the ’80s, but when Metalhead came out, that really got me back into you guys and I’ve kind of picked up from there and been following ever since.
A lot of people got in to us on Metalhead. It’s kind of a dark album. It’s a great album, actually, I think it’s a really underrated album. It now ended up in a lot of people’s like, you know, top 10 albums they play Saxon, so it’s getting the recognition, I think.
You did the King Crimson cover on the next album? Do you remember touring or sharing bill with a Canadian band named April Wine in 1980?
Yeah, we did some shows together. We did the Monsters Of Rock together, the very first big one in the UK. I remember watching them, they were a good band.
Yeah, because they had a bit of a radio hit with their cover of “21st Century Schizoid Man”? So, when you guys did “In The Court Of The Crimson King”, I thought that was a great connection there.
A lot of people do “21st Century Schizoid Man”, it’s such a hidden track, but I wanted to do something a bit more proggy, a bit more prog-rocky. which is why we used the other one.
What else do you have on the go as far as other projects you’d like to do or anything else you’re working on?
At the moment, we’re not really working on much. We only finished this album in October last year, so we’ve been working pretty hard on this album. No real plans yet, just to promote this album, tour this year and promote the album. We might do more videos, maybe I don’t know. Just to concentrate on the album. That’s the next thing.
I’m looking at the dates. And I don’t see any Canadian dates yet. So I’m hoping if there’s going to be dates added on, because there’s not really a lot of room in between all those shows that are listed.
We have some space after the summer to maybe come back and do some Canadian shows, and some West Coast; we’re not doing West Coast shows either. It would be a good plan to do Canada, then shoot over to Vancouver and then on the West Coast and maybe go into New Mexico. So there’s a few areas that we aren’t playing on this part of the tour, but it’s just part one, basically. So we’ll see what happens.
Supergroup Black Country Communion Announce New Album ‘V’ and Lead Single “Stay Free”
Black Country Communion, the iconic rock supergroup featuring the talents of Joe Bonamassa, Glenn Hughes, Jason Bonham, and Derek Sherinian, is thrilled to announce the upcoming release of their highly anticipated fifth studio album, V, available worldwide on June 14. To celebrate, fans are treated to the immediate release of the album’s heavy funk lead single, “Stay Free,” out today on all major streaming platforms.
Produced by longtime collaborator Kevin Shirley, ‘V’ marks a monumental chapter in the band’s storied career, embodying a renewed spirit and an evolution of their unmistakable sound. Shirley captures the essence of the band’s journey, stating, “For a band that started out as a collection of the best practitioners of their instruments, they very quickly found a unique sound. This time around, it has more purpose, the riffs are tougher, and there are hooks! Yes, hooks! It’s the most cohesive record, full of soul and grit, and I think this is the one that’s going to be the benchmark for Black Country Communion.”
Glenn agrees, “In my opinion, we had the best time recording this record at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, tons of fun & a magical recording. Meet you inside the Music.”
“Stay Free,” the lead single, is a powerhouse track that blends hard rock’s raw energy with a heavy dose of blues, channelling the spirit of legends like AC/DC and Led Zeppelin. It sets the tone for what fans can expect from ‘V’ – a testament to the band’s dynamic synergy and creative evolution.
Since their debut in 2010, Black Country Communion has delivered a series of critically acclaimed albums, each showcasing the group’s ability to fuse British blues-rock with American soul in a way that captivates audiences worldwide. Their return with ‘V’ and the single “Stay Free” reaffirms their status as rock royalty and showcases their growth as musicians and storytellers.Kevin Shirley’s insight into the recording process highlights the unique chemistry and camaraderie within the band. “When we convened in 2023 to start recording the album V, it really was like picking up the day after the most recent gig,” Shirley reflects. “The camaraderie is immediately evident. Once they start playing, everyone is deadly serious, and the music sounds like this band, and nothing else sounds like it.”‘V’ is a milestone that celebrates the journey, talent, and vision of Black Country Communion. As the band embarks on this new chapter, they invite fans old and new to join them in experiencing the depth and power of ‘V’ and the electrifying energy of “Stay Free.”
The news follows the announcement of the band’s upcoming performance at the Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale, FL on Sunday, March 17th. This rare appearance will be the first live performance in America from the band in over 11 years. Presented by Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, all profits from the concert will be donated to support music education and musicians in need. The band is also set to appear on the Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea cruise, sailing from Miami to Cozumel, Mexico from March 18-22. The album ‘V’ is available for pre-order now.
For more details, exclusive content, and updates, please visit https://joeb.me/OrderBCCV.About Black Country Communion
Canada’s CRASH KELLY has a new album coming in April titled Mix Tape Vol 1. It will be CRASH KELLY’S first release since 2008. Featuring guitarist/vocalist Sean Kelly (Lee Aaron, Coney Hatch) , Mix Tape Vol 1 features covers of classics by Alice Cooper, Ratt, Motley Crue, New York Dolls, Cheap Trick, and more, as well as 1 Crash Kelly original. The album is inspired by Sean’s best- selling book Don’t Call It Hair Metal : Art in the Excess of ‘80s Rock, (see links below)
2024 launches with a bang thanks to the announcement of ‘The Quantum Phase‘, the highly anticipated new record from supergroup THE END MACHINE. The announcement signals a notable change in personnel as well. Singer Robert Mason has officially parted ways with the group, paving the way for Girish Pradhan, the rising superstar vocalist known for his work under the moniker Girish And The Chronicles and, more recently, with Joel Hoekstra’s 13. The addition of Girish Pradhan to the band is a testament to the keen discernment of Serafino Perugino, president, and founder of Frontiers Records. Perugino, who serves as the executive producer for THE END MACHINE, recognized the incredible talent and potential in Pradhan and brought him to the attention of the band.
To herald this fantastic change and new album, THE END MACHINE shares their first single off of ‘The Quantum Phase,’ entitled “Silent Winter.” The track is accompanied by a new music video.
Jeff Pilson comments on the new track:
“‘Silent Winter’ is a song about the bleak prospects for humanity if we keep on our current trajectory. ‘Quantum Phase’ – the album – deals with what we must do to change course.”
Established in 2018, THE END MACHINE released their eponymous debut album, ‘The End Machine,’ in 2019 bringing early acclaim for not only contemporary production and a modern attitude, but also their perfectly crafted songs, paying homage to their roots and the music that they love. This attitude and talent was equally on display with their 2021 sophomore album, ‘Phase 2‘.
In delivering 2024’s ‘The Quantum Phase,’ THE END MACHINE has not only surpassed expectations but has penned the record of their lives! With each note and lyric, they have exceeded their own artistic aspirations, collectively crafting the album they always wished they had written. This monumental work stands as a testament to THE END MACHINE’s evolution, showcasing not only their musical prowess but also their unwavering dedication to pushing the boundaries of their creative expression.
Tracklisting: 1) Black Hole Extinction 2) Silent Winter 3) Killer of the Night 4) Hell or High Water 5) Stand Up 6) Burning Man 7) Shattered Glass Heart 8) Time 9) Hunted 10) Stranger in the Mirror 11) Into the Blazing Sun
Produced By: Jeff Pilson for Pilsound Music Inc Studio: Pilsound Studios, Santa Clarita CA Recorded By: Jeff Pilson and Girish Pradhan, additional engineering: Olivia Pilson Mixed By: Alessandro Del Vecchio Mastered By: Alessandro Del Vecchio
Band Members: George Lynch Girish Pradhan Steve Brown Jeff Pilson
Loverboy to launch previously unreleased live show in fully restored and remixed sound & vision through earMUSIC.
The story of Loverboy is akin to a Hollywood movie. Overcoming rejection to eventually become one of Canada’s most successful rock bands of all time and selling millions of albums in the process, is a feel-good story for the ages.
“Live In ‘82” has been lovingly restored by Paul Dean from his personal archive of 16mm film, the joyous energy of a band who helped define the golden era of 80’s music captured like lightning in a bottle. With their great music, colorful clothing, outrageous hairstyles (and headbands!), and terrific soundtracks for movies like ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’, and ‘Top Gun’, Loverboy has stood the test of time.
“Live In ‘82” will become available on limited CD+Blu-ray, limited LP+DVD and digital streaming and download on June 7th. Today’s announcement coincides with the launch of the first live track: ‘Turn Me Loose’ is available as digital single and live video.
For more than 40 years, Loverboy has been “Working For The Weekend” (and on the weekend), delighting audiences around the world since forming in 1979, when vocalist Mike Reno was introduced to guitar hot shot Paul Dean – both veterans of several bands on the Canadian scene – at Calgary’s Refinery Night Club. Along with Reno and Dean, Loverboy still includes original members Doug Johnson on keyboards and Matt Frenette on drums, with Ken “Spider” Sinnaeve replacing the late Scott Smith on bass.
With their trademark red leather pants, bandannas, big rock sound and high-energy live shows, the band has sold more than 10 million albums, earning several multi-platinum awards. Their string of hits includes, in addition to the anthem ‘Working For The Weekend’, such arena rock staples as ‘The Kid Is Hot Tonight’, ‘Take Me To The Top’, ‘Turn Me Loose’, ‘Jump’ and many more. Loverboyare not only masters of their craft as songwriters, but also renowned for being a formidable touring act, spending years on the road sharing stages with everyone from Def Leppard to Journey.
In 2009, the group was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and more recently the Canadian Walk of Fame, in the fall of 2023.
And there is no stopping the band this year, as they embark on a Live Nation promoted North American tour supporting Sammy Hagar, starting in July.
I’m not normally a fan of ‘tribute’ albums, especially when they consist of various big names doing a predictable run through of the hits. But Zakk Wylde has made an impressive act covering the Ozzy era of Black Sabbath. I picked up Zakk Sabbath’s ‘Vertigo’ LP a couple of years ago, a track by track re-do of Sabbath’s debut album, and quite liked it. I should say I was not a huge Zakk fan previously, be it his albums w/ Ozzy or Black Label.Society, but his recordings of full Sabbath albums I can get into. Zakk remains faithful to the originals, and he does a pretty decent Ozzy vocal. This new double album sees Zakk Sabbath covering the next 2 albums in the catalogue – Paranoid and Master of Reality, and both sound excellent! So, I am looking forward to adding this (on vinyl) to my Sabbath related collection. *Check out the press info below, as well as ordering link, tracklisting, and tour dates!
ZAKK SABBATH are back with an even more massive dose of pure BLACK SABBATH worship! Celebrating more than 50 years of Birmingham ‘s most famous four, the ‘inventors’ of heavy metal are being honoured by the preeminent tribute trio led by guitarist and singer Zakk Wylde with the double album “Doomed Forever Forever Doomed”. This loving tribute contains the Americans’ brilliant take on BLACK SABBATH’s second and third full-lengths, the classic heavy metal masterpieces “Paranoid” (1970) and “Master of Reality” (1971).
ZAKK SABBATH were founded by BLACK LABEL SOCIETY guitarist and singer Zakk Wylde, who is widely renowned for his many years as lead guitarist for OZZY OSBOURNE and now PANTERA, as a tribute to the English heavy metal pioneers BLACK SABBATH.
Initially playing shows with a rotating lineup, ZAKK SABBATH released a 12″ EP entitled “Live in Detroit” in 2017.
Having solidified a stable cast with the addition of OZZY OSBOURNE and ROB ZOMBIE bass player Blasko and Joey Castillo on drums (also of DANZIG and QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE), ZAKK SABBATH were inspired by the 50th anniversary of BLACK SABBATH’s self-titled debut full-length, tellingly released on Friday the 13th in 1970, to enter the studio for a proper homage to a record which changed music forever.
In a productive DIY process, the songs of the “Black Sabbath” album were faithfully recorded live in the studio following the spirit of the original, which was famously captured in just one day in 1969. ZAKK SABBATH respectfully added their own flair to make for a slightly different flavour, revisiting various live renditions and extending a solo here or slowing things down there, because that’s what the originators tended to do on stage.
ZAKK SABBATH released their tribute to the monumental heavy metal milestone under the title “Vertigo” in 2020, a nod to BLACK SABBATH’s legendary label Vertigo Records.
“Vertigo” was heaped with praise from critics and fans alike. The trio’s first full-length also became a massive global success, underscored by impressive Billboard chart entries such as #5 on the US Hard Music chart, #7 on the Current Rock Albums chart and #27 on the Billboard Top Albums chart. Abroad, it was ranked #1 in Metal Albums in France and #3 on the German Album chart, as well as #9 on the UK Top 40 Rock/Metal chart.
Love will get you far, and pure passion for classic metal drives ZAKK SABBATH beyond all else. With the double album “Doomed Forever Forever Doomed”, they erect an even more monolithic monument to BLACK SABBATH than before. Time to bang heads again to these beautifully revisited songs that easily rank among the most influential and consequential ever composed by humans!
Tracklist “Doomed Forever” 1. Sweet Leaf 2. After Forever 3. Embryo 4. Children of the Grave 5. Orchid 6. Lord of this World 7. Solitude 8. Into the Void
Tracklist “Forever Doomed” 1. Sweet Leaf 2. After Forever 3. Embryo 4. Children of the Grave 5. Orchid 6. Lord of this World 7. Solitude 8. Into the Void
Line-up Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, OZZY OSBOURNE, PANTERA) – guitar, vocals Blasko (OZZY OSBOURNE, ROB ZOMBIE) – bass Joey “C” Castillo (DANZIG, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE) – drums
Recorded at the Black Vatican & Clear Lake Audio Produced by Zakk Wylde Engineered by Jay Ruston & Adam Fuller
Available formats “Doomed Forever Forever Doomed” is available as 2CD Digisleeve, and as a Gatefold 2LP on transparent red vinyl, on transparent purple vinyl, on black vinyl, and on tape cassette.
For more than 50 years, Nektar has taken legions of fans on audio-visual journeys to far reaches of the universe and the depths of the ocean with their immersive blend of sight and sound.
Formed in Germany in 1969 by British expats, Nektar soaked up the musical freedom they found in their new home, favoring extended compositions and concept albums over the constraints of pop. They were among the progenitors of the progressive rock movement of the 1970s as well as the jam-band scene that arose in the late 1990s. Their sound traveled well to the States, where they enjoyed Top 40 success with “A Tab in the Ocean” (1972) and “Remember the Future” (1973). Nearly 20 albums and a half-century later, the band’s artistic and personal charisma has earned them masses of devoted fans.
As they begin the next 50 years of their career, they kick it off with “Journey to the Other Side – Live at The Dunellen Theatre June 10, 2023”. The band captures this with a 2CD/Blu-Ray set with a 5-camera shoot and multi-track recording. Clocking in at over 2 and 1/2 hours and spanning the band’s entire career with classics like “Remember the Future Parts 1 & 2”, “A Tab in the Ocean”, and many more.
Nektar - Journey To The Other Side Live Blu-Ray+2CDs TRACKLIST Introduction The Light Beyond A Tab in the Ocean SkyWriter I’m On Fire Dream Nebula Drifting Cast Your Fate A Day in the Life of a Preacher Recycled 2 Show Me The Way Remember the Future Part 1 Remember the Future Part 2 Look Through Me Fidgety Queen Good Day Bonus Track: Devils Door/King of Twilight – (Blu-Ray and Download Only)
FEATURING MEMBERS OF EVANESCENCE, ALICE COOPER AND GRANNY 4 BARREL, KILLINGTON PIT ANNOUNCE NEW COVER SONG ‘RIDING ON THE WIND’ OUT NOW
As Killington Pit prepare to release their first original material later in 2024 and play their first live shows, the band recently released another of their hugely popular cover songs. On Friday, February 16th the band released a stunning cover of the Judas Priest classic “Riding On the Wind”. The track comes from Priest’s seminal 1982 “Screaming For Vengeance” album and is another perfect showcase for the sound and chemistry of newcomers Killington Pit.The track features a stunning performance video from the band HERE
The new cover version follows the bands initial two single releases. Their cover of Accept’s “Balls To The Wall” & Rainbow’s “Kill the King” now have over one and a half million streams on Spotify and hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube.The members of Killington Pit connected during the pandemic lockdown and began recording together. As time progressed friendships grew and a core band formed with Terry LeRoi, Will Hunt, Troy McLawhorn and Chuck Garric. “Kill The King” also featured veteran guitarist Stef Burns (Alice Cooper/Huey Lewis & The News) and vocalist guitarist Jeff Blando (Slaughter/Lynchmob/Vince Neil).Will Hunt says, “‘Riding on the Wind’ was always my favorite Priest tune, before Scott Travis, of course. I definitely tried to approach it in a way I thought Scott would play it to give it some modern energy. The fellas and I had a lotta fun with this one!”Troy McLawhorn comments,“Glenn and KK were my teachers when I was learning to play the guitar. Not literally, but I listened to Priest constantly when I was a kid and spent a lot of hours trying to figure out how to play their songs on the guitar. Judas Priest is one of my all-time favorite bands! It was a lot of fun and a challenge to try to recreate the guitar parts for our rendition of ‘Riding on the Wind’. Again, I stuck pretty closely to the original because I respect and honor what they wrote and recorded, and I wanted to do it justice. I’m not trying to re-invent the song. I just wanted to feel the joy of playing it!!!”Chuck Garricadds, “Ian Hill of Judas Priest is a Bass icon! Thats what you get from a Metal God.”Terry LeRoi says, “Screaming For Vengeance is one of my all time favorite records. It’s been a huge inspiration for me over the years. ‘Riding On The Wind’ is the stand out track for me. Rob Halford’s voice is nothing short of amazing on this song and his midrange tones are ear shattering. His singing style and his willingness to pushing vocal limits is unparalleled and has always been my reference point. When Killington Pit started exploring possible songs to cover…this one was at the top of our list. It’s been such an honor to play with Will, Chuck and Troy and a privilege and great joy to pay tribute to Judas Priest!” LeRoi adds, “Over the coming months we will be releasing our full length covers album with accompanying videos. 2024 will see us playing select shows worldwide and releasing original Killington Pit music. We’re looking forward to sharing this with all of the fans!”
Killington Pit is: Vocals – Terry LeRoi Drums – Will Hunt Guitar – Troy McLawhorn Bass – Chuck Garric
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Outsider Rock 