An audio sample of "Firepower", the title track of the upcoming album from JUDAS PRIEST, can be streamed below. The disc will be released in March 2018.


The British heavy metal legends spent the last few months in the studio recording the follow-up to 2014's "Redeemer Of Souls" with the band's longtime collaborator Tom Allom, acclaimed British knob-twiddler Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, EXODUS, TESTAMENT, ACCEPT) and engineer Mike Exeter (BLACK SABBATH).


JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford told VintageRock.com about "Firepower": "It's great. This is what PRIEST lives for. We're a hard-working metal band still making the metal forty-odd years later, thanks to our glorious metal fans around the world.


"So we make music now, obviously, still for our own pleasure and enjoyment, and the challenge of finding a new riff and a new melody is always very… It's a great feeling," he continued.


Rob also talked about the process of making the new PRIEST album, saying: "We came off the 'Redeemer Of Souls' tour, had a little bit of a break, like we've always done, and then we dove straight back into the second record with Richie [Faulkner, JUDAS PRIEST guitarist]. And it's Richie's moment, really, because when we did 'Redeemer Of Souls' with Richie, obviously it was his first time with PRIEST as a writer, so I think it was great how Richie coming into the band at that point, and then going through the writing experience and the world tour together really put Richie in a better place for when we went in to do 'Firepower' — just because you learn so much in a band."


Halford added: "Richie's playing is fucking unbelievable on this album. And just the contribution, I think, as the writing team of Richie and Glenn [Tipton, JUDAS PRIEST guitarist] and myself. This is some of our best work — without a doubt."


Faulkner joined PRIEST in 2011 as the replacement for founding guitarist K.K. Downing.
Prior to hooking up with PRIEST, Faulkner was the guitarist in the backing band for Lauren Harris, daughter of IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris.


Rob recently told "Trunk Nation" that collaborating again with Allom, who produced every PRIEST release from "Unleashed In The East" (1979) through "Ram It Down" (1988), along with several live records since then, has been "brilliant" and "absolutely fantastic." "Tom has a rich history with PRIEST, particularly those great moments with 'Screaming For Vengeance', 'Defenders Of The Faith' [and] 'British Steel'," he said. "My God — he's the man in that respect. So I thought it was really great for Andy Sneap and Mike Exeter to accept that this was gonna be like a three-man job, with Andy mostly holding the reins, but with Tom by his side and Mike there [as well]."


Sneap, who plays guitar in the reactivated British occult metal act HELL, recently told Serbia's Hardwired magazine that PRIEST's new album will contain "a really good energy and some real classic moments." He said "Rob did great" during the album's final recording sessions. "I'll tell you what: for someone who's got that much experience, there's no ego there at all," he said. "We'd do, like, six or seven passes, and I'd ask him to try something a bit [different] on this part, and he was, like, 'No problem.' And he'd give me another four takes with a slightly different vibe. And then me and Tom Allom would sit there and we'd comp it, and we pretty much agreed on everything."


The North American leg of the "Firepower" tour will kick off on March 13 in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania and will wrap on May 1 in San Antonio, Texas. Support on the trek will come from SAXON and BLACK STAR RIDERS.

Courtesy of www.blabbermouth.net 

Three members of the classic DOKKEN lineup have reunited in a new project called SUPER STROKE. The band, which is rounded out by former LYNCH MOB and current WARRANT singer Robert Mason, is working on material for its debut album, to be released in late 2018.


In a brand new interview with Glide Magazine, former DOKKEN bassist Jeff Pilson, who has been a member of FOREIGNER for the past 13 years, said: "I have a project that we'll be announcing soon that is George Lynch, Mick Brown and I, from DOKKEN. We have a project with Robert Mason called SUPER STROKE. It won't be coming out until well into next year but we've already written a lot of songs for that and it's absolutely stupendous. I am really proud of that and real excited."


Asked what the SUPER STROKE music sounds like, Pilson said: "There's definitely some DOKKEN in there. There is a little bit of the straight-ahead LYNCH MOB-ness in certain aspects but then another aspect we get quite musical. It's not progressive but very musical. Some of the songs are pretty epic in their musicality. George is playing his ass off. I mean, the whole band is playing great, I got to say. And Robert is just an amazing singer and it's so much fun. Robert is in WARRANT right now, and he was the second singer for LYNCH MOB. There's a lot of connections in there. So I'm doing that."


DOKKEN's classic lineup reunited for a short Japanese tour in the fall of 2016. The trek marked the first time in twenty-one years DOKKEN's classic lineup had hit the road.


A CD and DVD of DOKKEN's Japanese tour will tentatively arrive in March 2018. It will feature footage from two of the Japanese shows — including Tokyo — plus a brand new song, for which DOKKEN plans to film a video in December.


Singer Don Dokken told "The Classic Metal Show" that the main reason he doesn't want to continue with the classic DOKKEN lineup is that he "loves" the band he has now — which features Brown, alongside guitarist Jon Levin and bassist Chris McCarvill.

Courtesy of www.blabbermouth.net

Beasto Blanco, the band fronted by long time Alice Cooper bassist Chuck Garric, will release Live From Berlin on January 19th via Rat Pak Records.


Live From Berlin was recorded at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany during the 2016 sold-out Böhse Onkelz tour. The release features songs from both their debut release Live Fast Die Loud (2013) as well as their 2016 self-titled sophomore release Beasto Blanco.


Frontman Chuck Garric comments, "It was an honour to be invited to tour with the legendary Bohse Onkelz. Every show was sold out, every night a feast of rock ‘n’ roll. The music was loud the crowd was louder! Berlin was a special night and we want to invite you to the party!”


Calico Cooper adds, “Beasto is a band that’s driven by the crowd. The more they scream for it the more we give it and Berlin was howling, it was an electric show!”, and guitarist Brother Latham states, “Blood, and sweat, it makes for any great story…this one, for sure will be written in the books. Berlin knocked us up beyond our wildest potential, living up to our motto Live Fast Die Loud!”
​

Influenced by bands such as White Zombie and Motorhead, Beasto Blanco’s music is a potent mix of heavy riffs, driving bass and melodic choruses. Live From Berlin” is available for pre-order in various bundle configurations including vinyl, cassette, deluxe jewel case, hand autographed and an Ultimate Fan Bundle where you can receive a personal phone call from Chuck Garric. Click here to pre-order.

Tracklisting:
"Il Nostro Spirito"/"Beasto Blanco"
"Freak"
"Motor Queen"/Drum Solo
"Grind"
"Machine Girl"
"Death Rattle"
"Honey"
"Feed My Frankenstein"
"Sadhana"/"Breakdown"

Courtesy of www.bravewords.com

Norwegian rockers TNT recently issued the following update:
“After a 35-year career... with a few scattered breaks and temporary line-up changes in that time, it is with a heavy heart that the remaining original members of TNT have made the decision to move on in separate musical directions”.


The band's management team expressed how extremely difficult this decision was for the band: “There is no easy way to break up a family.”


TNT have decided to continue with a new vocalist and have recruited Spanish vocalist Baol Bardot Bulsara as their new singer. He made his live debut with the band on November 22nd in Oslo, Norway where TNT opened up for the Scorpions. Fan-filmed video of the entire show is available below.

A new TNT release will be announced very soon. The band will then commence international touring in early 2018 in support of the new album.


Harnell has started work on a new Starbreaker album, its third. A solo release is also in the works. He will start touring worldwide early in the new year, with Starbreaker shows planned after a solo tour.

​Courtesy of www.bravewords.com 

Stryper singer Michael Sweet is set to release a new DVD, entitled Sole: Songs And Stories From A Life In Music. The footage on the DVD was filmed on June 2nd at the Narrows Center For The Arts in Fall River, Massachusetts.
​
The DVD will be available at the "A Michael Sweet Christmas" event on December 14th at the Spire Center For The Performing Arts in Plymouth, Massachusetts (tickets here), and soon at MichaelSweet.com.

Sweet & Lynch, featuring Michael Sweet and Lynch Mob/Dokken guitarist George Lynch, released their sophomore album, Unified, on November 10th.

Tracklisting:
“Promised Land”
“Walk”
“Afterlife”
“Make Your Mark”
“Tried & True”
“Unified”
“Find Your Way”
“Heart Of Fire”
“Bridge Of Broken Lies”
“Better Man”
“Live To Die”
“Walk” video:

Courtesy of www.bravewords.com

​This week on the Hair Metal Mansion Radio Show, host Andrew the Axeman welcomes VIXEN & MADAM X drummer, ROXY PETRUCCI, as the special guest! Roxy joins the show to talk and premiere the newly released MADAM X record "Monstrocity". She talks the history and reunion of MADAM X, growing up in the business with sister Maxine, as well as what's going on with VIXEN, including a new live record and much more. 

Also on tap ... 

 - Additional new music premieres from L.A. GUNS, PERMACRUSH, REVOLUTION SAINTS and live TYKETTO. 

We also salute the legendary MALCOLM YOUNG with a double shot of AC/DC!

​The Hair Metal Mansion Radio Show w/ Andrew the Axeman premieres every THURSDAY night @ 9pm ET/8pm CT/6pm PT!

The premiere simulcasts on 2 stations:
- Philly Rock Radio: www.phillyrockradio.com
&
- Rock Radio UK - www.rock-radio.co.uk

Each station has free mobile apps that you can download if on the go! Also available via iTunes, TuneIn and Google Play. 

Miss the premiere? Hair Metal Mansion is proudly syndicated to the best FM, AM and internet stations worldwide throughout the week and weekend! For ALL the air times, go here:
http://hmmofficial.weebly.com/radio-showaffiliates.html ​​​ ​​​​​​

Photos courtesy of Joe Schaeffer Photography & Michael Cox 

​Malcolm Young, guitarist and co-founder of the legendary Australian hard rock band AC/DC, has died at the age of 64. He had been suffering from dementia for at least the past three years.

Malcolm died peacefully on Saturday with his family by his bedside, a statement said.

"Today it is with deep heartfelt sadness that AC/DC has to announce the passing of Malcolm Young," AC/DC wrote in a statement.

"Malcolm, along with Angus, was the founder and creator of AC/DC. With enormous dedication and commitment, he was the driving force behind the band. As a guitarist, songwriter and visionary, he was a perfectionist and a unique man. He always stuck to his guns and did and said exactly what he wanted. He took great pride in all that he endeavored. His loyalty to the fans was unsurpassed."

Malcolm's brother Angus said they were close until the end.

"As his brother, it is hard to express in words what he has meant to me during my life, the bond we had was unique and very special," he said. “He leaves behind an enormous legacy that will live on forever."

In a separate statement to Australia's SBS, the band said: "Renowned for his musical prowess, Malcolm was a songwriter, guitarist, performer, producer and visionary who inspired many. From the outset, he knew what he wanted to achieve and, along with his younger brother, took to the world stage giving their all at every show. Nothing less would do for their fans."

Malcolm Young struggled with the onset of dementia for a period of time prior to being admitted to full-time nursing care in Sydney, Australia beginning in 2014.

Malcolm was replaced in AC/DC by Stevie Young, nephew of Malcolm and AC/DC guitarist Angus Young.

"We miss Malcolm, obviously," AC/DC singer Brian Johnson told TeamRock Radio in July 2014. "He's a fighter. He's in hospital, but he's a fighter. We've got our fingers crossed that he'll get strong again.

"Stevie, Malcolm's nephew, was magnificent, but when you're recording with this thing hanging over you and your work mate isn't well, it's difficult. But I'm sure he was rooting for us. He's such a strong man. He's a small guy, but he's very strong. He's proud and he's very private, so we can't say too much."

The Sydney Morning Herald reported in September 2014 that Malcolm was being treated in a nursing home in Sydney, Australia. The facility was believed to be Lulworth House in Elizabeth Bay. A Young family connection told the newspaper, "If you were in the room with [Malcolm] and walked out, then came back in one minute later, he wouldn't remember who you are. He has a complete loss of short-term memory. His wife, O'Linda, has put him in full-time care."

Malcolm did not participate in the recording sessions for AC/DC's latest studio album, "Rock Or Bust", which arrived on December 2, 2014.

Malcolm Young was faced with two other massive health scares after the conclusion of the group's marathon 20-month tour in support of 2008's "Black Ice" album. First, he was diagnosed with lung cancer, which was detected early, enabling surgeons to operate on the guitarist successfully. Then he discovered he had a heart condition, which Brian Johnson only learned about while having dinner in London with Malcolm and his wife one evening a few years ago.

"This is typical Malcolm — he got a hold of my hand and went... [bangs repeatedly on his chest]" the vocalist told Q. "He says, 'Pacemaker. Fucking good, mate.' He scared the shit out of us! And there's a twinkle in his eye, he was tickled pink. It's like he was showing us a new fuzzbox or something!"

Meanwhile, Angus, who had begun working on ideas for songs, was posed with a dilemma: whether or not AC/DC should continue on as a touring and recording act without Malcolm. He sought advice from his older brother George, the ex-EASYBEATS frontman who co-produced many of AC/DC's early albums, but eventually made the decision himself.

"Any time I saw [Malcolm], I'd be asking him whether the band should carry on," Angus told Q. "I was even asking him, 'Are you picking up your guitar?' And a lot of times he wasn't. Communication was hard. You kind of know then – what you're saying is not getting through. So I thought: 'Do I keep going?' I talked with my brother George, and George always said, 'It's really what you want. Do you think you should go forward…?' I said, 'It's not easy.' And he said, 'You know Mal better than anyone. Mal always liked to go forward, to play on.' I thought, 'Okay. I'll give it a shot. I'll try.'"

Angus Young spoke to GMI Rock about his brother's health issues, explaining: "Besides the mental side with the dementia, he had physical problems also. He had a lung operation, which was pretty critical, but he got treatment for that because they got to it. It was like a cancer. So they got that early and then later on he had also a heart problem. So it was like everything hit him at once... But he kept going as long as he could... You were hoping that he would get better, y'know, but unfortunately it's a disease... The physical side of him, he got great treatment for all that so he's good with all that, but the mental side has deteriorated. He himself had said, 'I won't be able to do it anymore.'"

Angus Young told Sweden's Aftonbladet that his nephew Stevie was the first person he thought of as a possible replacement for Malcolm. He said: "The logical choice to fulfill Mal's role on the project was my nephew Stevie. He had filled in for Mal in 1988 and he had done an American tour, a whole American tour, and he did it well."

Angus told The Pulse Of Radio that Stevie was a natural fit. "He just plugged into what we were doing, 'cause he's of the same age era as Malcolm and myself," he said. 'He was my eldest brother's son. You know, we all grew up together. Mal played that style how he played that rhythm style. Stevie, you know, he emulated that."

Asked if it was emotional for AC/DC to continue without Malcolm, Angus said, "When we were recording and listening, I didn't notice. Yeah, when you look, [you go], 'Yeah, it's not Malcolm.'"

Malcolm's death comes just weeks after his brother George Young, guitarist for THE EASYBEATS and AC/DC producer, died at age 70.

Malcolm is survived by his wife, two children and three grandchildren.


Courtesy of www.blabbermouth.net

Babylon A.D. are one of the few hard rock bands from the late '80s/early '90s that are still operating with all of their original members: Derek Davis, vocalist/songwriter, guitarists and songwriters, John Matthews and Ron Freschi, drummer Jamey Pacheco and bassist Robb Reid. The band formed in 1987 and to celebrate their 30th anniversary, will release their new album, Revelation Highway, on November 10th.
A music video for the album track “One Million Miles” is available for streaming below.
​

Vocalist Derek Davis comments on the song and video, "The song, 'One Million Miles', from our Revelation Highway release is a very special song to me. I wrote the song about my wife and I shared the demo with the band and they immediately wanted to put it on the record.  It's a very emotional song and kind of reminds me of floating. The pace of the song, harmony guitar work and lyrics all tie the song together extremely well. I'm very happy with the way it turned out.
 
"The video treatment fits the songs lyrics like hand in glove. It was so awesome to be at the beach near San Francisco. The day was beautiful and the ocean view was stunning, It, really was a magical day and one of the best times we as a band ever had shooting a video. I really hope our fans will see what we see in the video and song because it is very special to us."

Derek Davis on the new album: "This record kicks ass, from the opening track 'Crash And Burn' to the last track 'Saturday Night'. The band had a blast making the album and a lot had to do with original founding member lead-guitarist John Matthews rejoining the band. He really lit the fire that got the bands blood pumping to make a new record. For me it was awesome to produce and mix such a cool record. It's very hard hitting yet melodic, with some great lyrical story telling and great stand out tracks like, 'One Million Miles', 'Tears', 'Rags To Riches, and 'She Likes To Give It'. The songs are so catchy and memorable on the first listen I know our fans are gonna love it! And of course there are some burning guitar leads to keep the metal heads happy. The band is very grateful that Frontiers Music Srl listened to the tracks and felt the same way about them as we do and offered us the opportunity to get this record out. We can't wait to hit the road and play the material live."


Featuring 10 tracks of the energetic classic hard rock the band is known for, Revelation Highway is sure to please fans of the band's classic early material. The band will play shows in the UK and Germany this August/September to kick off promotion for the album with more touring planned both in the US and UK/Europe.

Tracklisting:
“Crash And Burn”
“Fool On Fire”
“One Million Miles”
“Tears”
“She Likes To Give It”
“Rags To Riches”
“Last Time For Love”
“I'm No Good For You”
“Saturday Night”
“Don't Tell Me Tonight”


“I’m No Good For You” video:

Courtesy of www.bravewords.com

This year marks the 25th anniversary of The Crimson Idol - the legendary story of Jonathan Aaron Steele, which was originally intended to be accompanied by a movie, with several hundred hours of film that were shot to create approximately 60 minutes of movie footage. The album is still considered to be the best of W.A.S.P.'s career, and one of the greatest concept albums of all time! It undoubtedly belongs in every metal head’s record collection.
​

Napalm Records now presents ReIdolized (The Soundtrack To The Crimson Idol), the 25th anniversary of the iconic hit album plus the original The Crimson Idol movie on DVD and BluRay. For the first time EVER as originally intended - film and soundtrack united and released as one special product. The product will also feature four missing songs that were originally intended to be part of the original The Crimson Idol.

ReIdolized (The Soundtrack To The Crimson Idol) will be released worldwide on February 2nd via Napalm Records.

Tracklisting:
CD1:
"The Titanic Overture"
"The Invisible Boy"
"Arena Of Pleasure"
"Chainsaw Charlie (Murders In The New Morgue)"
"The Gypsy Meets The Boy"
"Michael's Song"
"Miss You"
"Doctor Rockter"
CD2:
"I Am One"
"The Idol"
"Hold On To My Heart"
"Hey Mama"
"The Lost Boy"
"The Peace"
"Show Time"
"The Great Misconceptions Of Me"
Available formats:
- 2CD & Bluray & DVD in Slipcase
- 2LP Gatefold + DVD
- Deluxe Box
- 2CD Digipack (Re-Press)
- 2CD Jewelcase (Re-Press)
- Digital Album


Pre-order at this location.

Courtesy of www.bravewords.com