All Eight Concerts Are Free And Broadcast Online Via Each Local Stations Portal

As the band’s latest single “Scarlet Cross” continues to move up the Active Rock Radio charts (currently in the Top 20 at the format), Los Angeles rockers Black Veil Brides are announcing their first-ever virtual acoustic radio tour. Happening in conjunction with 8 local radios stations, the band will be performing their latest single and other favorites from their catalog. The shows start on March 23^rd for WEBN in frontman Andy Biersack’s hometown of Cincinnati, OH and wraps on April 2^nd for KCJK in Kansas City, MO. Other markets include Columbus, OH; Baltimore, MD; Detroit, MI; Monmouth Ocean, NJ; Phoenix, AZ; and Madison, WI. Each performance will be unique and a different set for each station. All shows are streaming free and local performance information is below: 

TUES 3/23 – WEBN/Cincinnati – 6:30pm EST – https://www.facebook.com/1027webn

WED 3/24 – WRKZ/Columbus – 10am EST – https://www.facebook.com/997theblitz

THU 3/25 – WIYY/Baltimore – 7pm EST – https://www.facebook.com/98online 

FRI 3/26 – WRIF/Detroit – 5pm EST – https://wrif.com/  

MON 3/29 – WRAT/Monmouth Ocean – 7pm EST – https://www.facebook.com/959therat  

TUES 3/30 – KUPD/Phoenix – 8pm PST – https://98kupd.com/  

WED 3/31 – WJJO/Madison – 7pm CST – https://www.facebook.com/941JJO  

FRI 4/2 – KCJK/Kansas City – 8pm CST – https://www.facebook.com/1051THEX  

After a massive social media ramp up, Black Veil Brides released the  video for the track “Scarlet Cross” last November. The video for “Scarlet Cross” was directed by longtime collaborator Patrick Fogarty and based on a concept written by frontman Andy Biersack. The video for “Scarlet Cross” – viewed nearly 5 million times to date – can be seen here: http://smarturl.it/scarletcross. “Scarlet Cross” is also available via all digital partners and comes from the band’s upcoming 2021 concept album The Phantom Tomorrow – the band’s sixth full-length album. The song was produced by Erik Ron (Godsmack, Dance Gavin Dance, Bush) and guitarist Jake Pitts. 

Black Veil Brides are hard at work putting the finishing touches on the upcoming album The Phantom Tomorrow– scheduled for release via Sumerian Records in 2021. More information on the latest musical creation from Andy Biersack, Jake Pitts, Jinxx, Lonny Eagleton and Christian Coma will be released in April. 

Like their band name suggests, Black Veil Brides evoke transcendent visions of an impenetrable hereafter, intermingling with a steely focus on the dark passions and elusive mysteries of the here and now. A romantic fantasy first summoned in a small town by founder Andy Biersack – a creative who was fascinated with death rock, theatricality, and monsters (both real and imagined). It wasn’t until moving to Los Angeles that the unstoppable force the band is currently was finalized. The band (and its members Andy Biersack, Jake Pitts, Jinxx, Lonny Eagleton, Christian Coma) Instagram and Twitter accounts command close to 10 million followers between them. Vale, the group’s most recent full-length album, went to No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Hard Rock Albums chart. In the hearts and minds of their fans, Black Veil Brides represents an unwillingness to compromise and a resistance to critics (personal and professional), fueled by the same fire as the group’s own heroes, the iconoclasts whose creative output, once dismissed, is now canonized.

New Album, Hell Unleashed, out April 30, 2021 via Napalm Records
Pre-Order HERE

Watch the New Music Video for “Gore” HERE

EVILE are back – straight from the abyss! 

April 30, 2021 will see British thrash titans EVILE release their brand new studio album, entitled Hell Unleashed, via Napalm Records – the band’s first album in eight long years! Since their formation in 2004, EVILE have been turning heads and taking names, delivering four pure thrash offerings blended with an uncompromising death metal assault. Hell Unleashed, the long-awaited successor to their 2013 release Skull, will make no exception – but this time, the album features a new exciting line-up formation of Ol Drake on vocals/guitars and new member Adam Smith of RipTide as rhythm guitarist.

Following the recent release of the blistering album title track from Hell Unleashed, today, the band has released their second single – the sharp and hard-hitting new track “Gore”! With these raging riffs full of anger, EVILE reach another dimension of pure evil, featuring the impressive backing vocals of American actor, comedian and musician Brian Posehn! 

Watch/listen to the new single “Gore” HERE: 

EVILE vocalist/guitarist Ol Drake comments:
“Here it is! The second new EVILE single from the upcoming album Hell Unleashed. This is a song about a topic that no other metal band has ever covered before; a serial killer. This song harkens back more to the first EVILE album; it could easily be a track from our beginnings. It’s heavy, it’s fast, it has some great changes, and it will punch you in the face sonically. The overall message of this song/video is that these horrible individuals are hidden in plain sight. They could be our friends, family, or colleagues.

We’re also excited to welcome back the extremely hilarious and extremely metal comedian Brian Posehn. He was kind enough to provide us with some backing vocals in the chorus. Luckily, we only needed the one-word shouting, so we got a great collection of Posehn ‘Gore’s to sift through. Thank you, Brian!

Turn it up LOUD, and enjoy ‘GORE’!“

One can be sure, Hell Unleashed is a raucous and masterful thrash metal attack! In just 41 minutes, the album unchains the unbridled forces of hell, catches some rousing demons of the past, and provides classical thrash metal with a contemporary yet hard-edged touch. The newly staffed four-piece strikes again on nine explosive tracks, leaving nothing but a hammering world of sound taken apart by thrash. Endangering guitar lines, which quickly build up to a furious thrash manifesto and attack the eardrum at breakneck speed, meet the merciless velocity EVILE are known and loved for.

Hell Unleashed was produced by Chris Clancy at Backstage Studios, UK, and will not only feature explosive guest backing vocals from Brian Posehn, but also include a cover song:

Ol Drake adds:
“This is the first album EVILE have done to include a cover song in the tracklisting. I’ve been a big fan of death metal for a long time, and seeing as this album is on the more extreme side of thrash vocally and musically, we thought it was a perfect opportunity to cover Mortician‘s ‘Zombie Apocalypse’. It has one of the greatest riffs in it!

We’re also very excited about the return of the legendary Michael Whelan (Sepultura, Obituary, Stephen King) as cover artist. He did the art for our second album and he’s always a pleasure to work with.”

Pre-Order Hell Unleashed NOW:

Tracklist:
1. Paralysed   
2. Gore ( feat. Brian Posehn )
3. Incarcerated           
4. War of Attrition     
5. Disorder     
6. The Thing (1982)    
7. Zombie Apocalypse            
8. Control from Above             
9. Hell Unleashed       

In North America, Hell Unleashed will be available in LP format in black vinyl, as well as in limited edition red vinyl (limited to 200), CD Jewel Case and digital formats. 

GROUNDBREAKING IMMERSIVE PERFORMANCE TO BROADCAST WORLDWIDE FROMSTRANGER THINGS: THE DRIVE-INTO EXPERIENCEON APRIL 24^TH AT 1:00PM PDT / 4:00PM EDT / 9:00PM BST / 10:00PM CEST

TICKETS & LIMITED-EDITION PACKAGES INCLUDING VIRTUAL MEET & GREETS ON SALE TODAY AT WWW.KORNLIVE.COM

Continuing a legacy of groundbreaking achievements and radical innovation, GRAMMY® Award-winning, multi-platinum band KORN have announced details of their global streaming event, KORN: MONUMENTAL.  

Scheduled for Saturday, April 24^th at 1:00PM PDT / 4:00PM EDT / 9:00PM BST / 10:00PM CEST, the ticketed immersive concert experience will broadcast worldwide from the set of the breath-taking Stranger Things: The Drive-Into Experience. Produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, the performance promises to be an unforgettable set from the iconic band, highlighted by rare and sought-after deep cuts and classics from their legendary catalog. Since KORN’s latest critically acclaimed album, THE NOTHING, never received a proper tour due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, KORN: MONUMENTAL will mark the live debut of select tracks from the new record for fans around the globe. 

Tickets for this landmark global streaming event are on sale at www.KornLive.com at an early bird discount through Saturday, March 27^th.  Fans can also purchase bundles and V.I.P. experiences, including exclusive merchandise, limited-edition autographed posters, and a virtual meet & greet with the entire band, which will be available as a digital download. KORN: MONUMENTAL will be available to stream for 72 hours through April 27^th at 11:59 PM EDT. Please note, this is a fully virtual event, there will be no in-person attendance permitted. 

KORN vocalist Jonathan Davis remarked “We hope you take part in this experience with us. And though it is not the same as performing live with you here, we still want to bring you some great music and a fun show.” 

Watch the official trailer for KORN: MONUMENTALHERE. Danny Wimmer, founder of Danny Wimmer Presents commented KORN’s global streaming event, “It’s always exciting to break new ground with a band like KORN that has been with us for so many of our biggest festival moments over the years. The scale of the vision for this global stream event is even more than we’ve come to expect out of a KORN show and will be one of the biggest livestream events from a rock band we’ve seen yet. If you’ve ever wanted to know what a massive rock concert coming to life in your living room might look like, this is it. So turn out the lights, turn up the volume and get ready to rock.” 

Shocking rock music back to life like only KORN could, the band ascended to a new creative, commercial, and critical peak with their 2019 album, THE NOTHING. It marked their 14^th Top 10 entry on the ‘Billboard 200’ and lifted them into rarified air giving them the fifth-most Top 10 debuts on the chart of any rock band. Lead by singles “You’ll Never Find Me,” “Can You Hear Me,” and “Cold,” REVOLVER crowned THE NOTHING “KORN’s best album in over 10 years,” while Metal Hammer affirmed the album “recaptures the genuine darkness of their earlier works” in a glowing 4.5-out-of-5 star review. “It continues KORN’s mission of probing the hidden corners and harsh realities of life within a shroud discordant darkness,” declared Noisey with The FADER adding, “KORN have never shied away from innovation… the icons have always looked forward.”  Los Angeles Times applauded the “…deep and potent performances from the band, evoking their ever-present rage but also feelings of loss and isolation,” while NME affirmed, “This urgent and important record will ensure the veterans don’t get lost in the shuffle.”  Once again, KORN redefine, revitalize, and reimagine the scope of rock music as perennial outliers and enduring iconoclasts. 

PHILIP H. ANSELMO AND THE ILLEGALS will return to the stage next month for a very special livestream event.

Dubbed A Vulgar Display Of Pantera, the multi-camera shot, fully live performance will take place on Friday, April 9th and find the band celebrating the legacy of Pantera with a set featuring select cuts from the band’s five classic albums: Cowboys From Hell, Vulgar Display Of Power, Far Beyond Driven, The Great Southern Trendkill, and Reinventing The Steel! The livestream will also include an opening set by Australian grindcore unit/Housecore recording artists King Parrot.

Comments Anselmo, “It’s always fun to get together with THE ILLEGALS and pay tribute to Pantera with all the awesome fans jamming along with us. Let’s do this!”

The festivities will commence at 7:00pm EDT / 4:00pm PDT with PHILIP H. ANSELMO AND THE ILLEGALS taking the stage at 8:00pm EDT / 5:00pm PDT sharp. Video on demand will be available through Monday, April 12th at 11:59pm EDT / 8:59pm PDT.

Don’t miss it! Early bird tickets are $12.50 ($17.50 week of show). Find tickets and exclusive merch bundles at illegalslive.com.

PHILIP H. ANSELMO AND THE ILLEGALS’ A Vulgar Display Of Pantera Live is presented in association with Danny Wimmer Presents.

PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS features Philip H. Anselmo (Pantera, Down, Superjoint, Scour, En Minor, etc.) with guitarists Stephen Taylor (Superjoint) and Mike DeLeon (Flesh Hoarder, Being Killed, ex-MOD), drummer Jose Manuel “Blue” Gonzalez (Superjoint, Warbeast), and bassist Derek Engemann (Scour, ex-Cattle Decapitation). The band’s most recent full-length, the critically-acclaimed Choosing Mental Illness As A Virtue, was released in 2018 via Anselmo’s own Housecore Records.

BAND SHARES TWO NEW SONGS
LISTEN TO “WARRIOR” + “UNDERRATED“

Atreyu have announced their new album Baptize, out June 4 via Spinefarm Records. Pre-order it here.

The band has shared not one but two brand new songs from the record.

Listen to the anthemic “Warrior,” featuring Travis Barker, and “Underrated.”

“‘Warrior‘ is song about persistence and never giving up,” the band shares. “We hope this song can be the puzzle piece that helps people realize that we ALL have the capacity for greatness. Sometimes, greatness can exist in the shadows and lives buried under negativity, trauma, or anxiety. ‘Warrior’ is about searching through all of that endless darkness to finally find the sunrise.” 

Atreyu continues, “When we wrote ‘Warrior,’ the idea to do a big marching drum break came about. We wanted it to feel like a hometown football game. Travis Barker was the perfect person to bring this to life. It’s cool to have him be a part of the song and to perform in a different light than what people may be used to.”

About “Underrated,” the band says, “We’ve always had to prove ourselves. We’ve never been handed anything nor have we taken any shortcuts. It’s never been ‘the easy way.’ Over two decades later, we’re still making our mark.” 

BAPTIZE TRACK LISTING:

“Strange Powers of Prophecy”

“Baptize”

“Save Us”

“Underrated”

“Broken Again”

“Weed”

“Dead Weight”

“Catastrophe”

“Fucked Up”

“Sabotage Me”

“Untouchable” Feat. Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach

“No Matter What”

“Oblivion” Feat. Matt Heafy of Trivium

“Stay””Warrior” Feat. Travis Barker 

ATREYU ARE:

Brandon Saller — Vocals

Dan Jacobs — Guitars

Travis Miguel — Guitars

Portner McKnight — Bass + Vocals

Kyle Rosa — Drums

Livestream March 27th – BUY TICKETS HERE

SPONGE Is:

Vin Dombroski – Vocals

Andy Patalan – Guitar

Jason Heartless – Drums

Kyle Neely – Guitar

Tim Patalan – Bass

“Conjuring old Sepultura and early Slayer vibes, ‘Choking Game’ offers a dark look into the world of mental illness, drug addiction, and depression so often overlooked in today’s society.” — SNAFU

Stream / Share SNAFU’s “Choking Game” HERE.

Hardcore thrash/punk unit SNAFU (Situation Normal All Fucked Up) will unleash their Exile//Banishment full-length on March 26th via Life After Death Records. 

Spawned from the ruins of Detroit, Michigan, SNAFU self-released their debut full length, Fear The Future, in 2013. Later distributed by Profane Existence, the songs bore a raw punk expression of raging cynicism and the destructive nature of mankind. Further honing their artistry, 2015’s Present Day Plague LP stayed true to their aggressive raw punk roots while working in elements of thrash and grind. Punknews crowned the record, “the soundtrack for the apocalypse.” Glacially Musical concurred, further likening the work to a, “violent trip through a post-apocalyptic landscape of human decadence.” 

This year, amidst plague, governmental corruption, and widespread societal suffering, the band spews forth the seething sounds of their third full-length, Exile//Banishment. Tracked and produced by Phil “Landphil” Hall (Municipal Waste, Cannabis Corpse, Iron Reagan etc.) and twin brother Josh “Hallhammer” Hall (Cannabis Corpse) at Blaze Of Torment Studios in Richmond, Virginia, mixed by Adam Shepard, and mastered by Joel Grind (Toxic Holocaust), Exile//Banishment is the band’s heaviest, darkest, and angriest affair yet focusing on personal frustrations and the hopeless future of humanity. 

“I’ve been good friends with Phil and Josh for a couple years now,” reveals guitarist/vocalist Scott Curnow. “We’ve gigged with all of their bands multiple times and I sometimes crew for Waste and Iron Regan; we’ve also toured with Cannabis Corpse. Phil has always given me advice and tips on how to help SNAFU to be more successful. So when we were getting ready to record a mutual friend was like, ‘hey, doesn’t Phil and Josh track all of their own bands? You should hit them up,’ and sure enough they were down. It was great having them there. Josh gave a lot of input when it came to the drums and Phil lent some great ideas on guitar parts and some solos. This album has basically been finished since May 2020 and with the pandemic we didn’t really know what to do with it or how to go about releasing it.” 

In advance of the release of Exile//Banishment, SNAFU delivers “Choking Game” for public feasting, noting of the track, “Conjuring old Sepultura and early Slayer vibes, ‘Choking Game’ offers a dark look into the world of mental illness, drug addiction, and depression so often overlooked in today’s society.”   

Stream SNAFU’s “Choking Game” at THIS LOCATION.

Exile//Banishment, which features artwork by Vladimir Chebakov, will be released on CD, cassette, and digital formats.

Find preorders at THIS LOCATION.

Exile//Banishment Track Listing:

1. Eyes Of Your God

2. Closed Casket Habits

3. The Pear Of Anguish

4. Choking Game

5. Bring Suffering

6. Wake Of Vultures

7. Monarch

8. No Rites (For The Less Dead)

9. Soil Of Blood

10. Amazing Waste

11. Exile & Banishment  

SNAFU:

Scott Curnow – guitar, vocals

Rian Staber – guitar, vocals

Patrick “El Toro” Saldivar – bass, vocals

Mike Jurysta – drums

LISTEN HERE

In anticipation of the Pokémon Day 25th anniversary celebration and virtual concert on Saturday, February 27th, Post Malone has released a cover of Hootie and the Blowfish’s smash 1995 hit “Only Wanna Be with You” – appropriately dubbed the “Pokémon 25 Version”. The original record was last on the Billboard charts 25 years ago and Post recorded his version to help celebrate the 25th anniversary of Pokémon. The song will be included as part of Post’s headlining appearance in the Pokémon Day virtual concert which begins promptly at 7:00 p.m. EST / 4:00 p.m. PST on February 27 and can be viewed for free on the official Pokémon YouTube and Twitch channels, and on Pokémon’s 25th anniversary website.

Listen to “Only Wanna Be with You – Pokémon 25 Version” HERE

New Mustaine Collection Will Span Electric and Acoustic Guitars Across Gibson, Epiphone, and Kramer

Following is a sampling of prototypes for the new Dave Mustaine Collection below:

Lamb Of God (Deluxe Version), Available March 26 via Epic, to Include Bonus Tracks, Live Album and Live DVD
Pre-Orders Available Now

LAMB OF GOD has premiered a video for the single “Ghost Shape People,” a track from the upcoming Lamb Of God (Deluxe Version). 

The video for “Ghost Shaped People” is available today on YouTube and the band’s website at http://lamb-of-god.com.  

Directed by Truman Kewley and Eddie Perez, “Ghost Shaped People,” hauntingly shows a man’s journey into the afterlife juxtaposed with a crushing live performance. 

The three-disc deluxe edition of last year’s critically acclaimed self-titled album will feature the full critically- acclaimed Lamb Of God record with two bonus tracks and a live version of the album, along with a DVD performance of Lamb Of God on March 26 via Epic Records. 

“This album, and in particular, this deluxe edition is something I’m incredibly proud of,” guitarist Willie Adler previously said. “Throughout the process of writing, recording, and the subsequent filming of the live stream, I knew we were creating much more than a collection of songs. Much more than a simple streamed performance. This was focused energy. Energy that, to me, is very tangible. And now, more than ever, in an era where human interaction is so limited, art…..be it music, visual, or otherwise, is a human connection point. And we need as much of that as possible! I hope everyone enjoys this deluxe edition as much as we enjoyed creating it. Thank you.” 

Pre-orders for the set are available now. The live CD and DVD portion of the deluxe version features the first of LAMB OF GOD‘s two ultra-successful live stream events from September 2020, in which the band performed their critically acclaimed, self-titled album Lamb Of God in full, plus an encore of four songs including “Ruin,” “Contractor,” “512,” and the debut live performance of “The Death Of Us,” a new song the band wrote and recorded in quarantine for the Bill & Ted Face The Music movie and soundtrack. The DVD includes a new director’s cut with bonus material. Watch the trailer for the deluxe package now at https://youtu.be/ihoFtYAfgEc. Digital copies will contain only Disc 1 and Disc 2. A separate vinyl edition of Lamb Of God – Live From Richmond, VA will also be available. 

Originally, released June 19 of last year, LAMB OF GOD’s first new album in five years was met with universal acclaim – not only among major rock journalists, but with all strata of metal fans around the world.  

But critics, media and the industry aside, perhaps the most telling statistic is the year-end US Metal Radio chart, where the new album dominated at #1 by a massive margin (over 2,000 more spins than the album at #2). Lamb Of God spent nine weeks in the #1 spot and never left the top 10 since debuting on the chart in February. Metal Radio is the lifeblood of the US metal world, largely staffed by college students and regional tastemakers, playing the music that they know their local metal fans want to hear.  

LAMB OF GOD’s self- titled album reached the coveted #1 spot on Consequence of Sound’s Top 30 Metal + Hard Rock Albums of 2020, stating, “Along with bringing in the New Wave of American Heavy Metal, LAMB OF GOD have been one of music’s most important acts over the past 20 years. From their phenomenal instrumentation to the potency of their sociopolitical lyricism, LAMB OF GOD remain titans of the genre, continuing to craft remarkable works of thrilling and captivating adrenaline… also proves to be a profound work of heavy metal… perhaps the most important metal album of 2020. It’s not only the album of LAMB OF GOD’s career, but the heavy album of the year.” 

At iTunes, LAMB OF GOD has landed at number one on the Overall, Rock and Metal iTunes album chart upon release. LAMB OF GOD eagerly awaits their return to the road to support Lamb of God. Their North American co-headline tour with Megadeth and support from Trivium and In Flames has been rescheduled to begin in July 2021 and their headline tour in the UK and co-headline tour with Kreator in Europe will take place in November and December 2021. Tickets for both tours are on-sale at lamb-of-god.com/tour.  

“LAMB OF GOD deliver the album of their career with self-titled effort…This album isn’t just an awesome release from LAMB OF GOD, but a perfect record to unite metalheads as one.” – Consequence of Sound 

“There is a world-weary pessimism that permeates right to the bones of LAMB OF GOD’s breathtaking eight LP.” – Kerrang! 

“The band has been vocal about the good place it’s in right now, and it shows in these songs.” – Metal Injection “

LAMB OF GOD know, after all, that their true essence is a brutish machismo and that they are a vehicle for total catharsis.” – Rolling Stone 

“This is a record that’s the most authentic version of the band LAMB OF GOD want to be.” – NME  

“The Virginian metal stalwarts’ self-titled album – their first release with Adler’s full-time replacement Art Cruz – boasts all the neck-snapping technical riffage and burly roars we’ve come to love,” -Revolver’s 25 Best Albums of 2020. 

LAMB OF GOD is:

D. Randall Blythe – Vocals 

Mark Morton – Guitar 

Willie Adler – Guitar 

John Campbell – Bass 

Art Cruz – Drums 

Loog Guitar

Pro VI Acoustic and Pro VI Electric

Loog

Our Score:  Pro VI Acoustic 4 out of 5 stars

                     Pro VI Electric 3.5 out of 5 stars

Loog Guitars burst on to the musical instrument scene in 2011 with a unique 3 stringed guitar design which utilizes the G, B and E strings and is set on a smaller scaled neck and body making it ideal for learners of all ages. In 2017 after a second successful Kickstarter campaign earning Loog the title of “Best-Selling Guitar Ever on Kickstarter” the company has yet to slow down or stop evolving their ever-growing product line.

The latest Loog offering is that of the Pro VI Acoustic and Electric models. Both guitars feature the companies first 6 string configurations which are set on larger scales and designed for guitarists ages 12 and up. Having purchased the 3 string Loog Pro for my son about a year ago both he and I were anxious to check out both new models, so we decided to start with the Pro VI Acoustic first as it was the most like our previous Loog.

After a quick tune up the Acoustic Pro VI was virtually ready to go right out of the box (something you do not often see from guitars in this price range). The overall feel of the guitar was quite good, and the added size of the neck and body balanced nicely in both sitting and standing positions. Where I felt the guitar really excelled was in the sound and projection. The parlor sized basswood body (available in 6 colors) has a mid-high tone range which helps each chord and note ring out loud and clear while the maple neck provides a solid fretting surface for both small and large hands. Though the fret ends could use a little work in the finishing department the guitar stays in tune quite well (a definite plus for younger players) and the overall playability and look of the guitar is quite good which made for an enjoyable playing experience.

Next, we fired up the Pro VI Electric guitar. After a quick install of a 9-volt battery (not included) via the compartment on the back and a flick of the micro switch located on the front of the guitar we were up and rocking. Though this is not Loog’s first attempt at amplification it is their first 6 string attempt and I have to say it is not half bad! The guitar features a paulownia body (available in 6 colors), 19 fret maple neck, volume & gain controls and an input jack for external amplification. Playability wise the Pro VI Electric has a comfortable feel with consistent balance despite the unique body shape. The maple neck has a straight, fast feel which will only get better the more you play it. Much like the Acoustic Pro VI and the Standard Pro I previously purchased I did find the fret work a little disappointing. The fret ends on both the upper and lower edge of the neck were rough and a bit inconsistent in length. This does seem to be a common flaw with Loog guitars and one I hope they look to address on future models. Sound wise it may take newer plays a little bit to adjust to the internal speaker sound when attempting to dial in a sound they like. Due to the limited controls (volume & gain) of the internal amp and the limited sweep of the knobs players basically get an all or nothing distorted tone which for some may be a little off putting and unusable especially if you are wanting a clean tone at higher volumes. Bypassing the internal amp via the front mounted input jack and plugging into an external amp did give the guitar a whole new feel and sound but not without a few quirks as using that input disables the volume and tone controls which may cause a bit of confusion for newer players. 

From head to toe the Pro VI Acoustic and Pro VI electric and great additions to the Loog line up. Yes, the guitars could benefit from some better finish work as both examples featured rough fret ends and inconsistent body finishes however you will be hard pressed to find anything as nice as what Loog offers in this price ( Pro VI Acoustic $149, Pro VI Electric $199). Not only does Loog offer solid instruments for all ages but the included flash card set and downloadable Loog learning app is a fun and interactive way for all ages to learn. For players wanting to expand their learning outside the App Loog lessons of all ability are offered in both group and private formats via Lessonface.com. Loog is more than just another guitar company with a product to sell. Along with providing an affordable, quality instrument the company is heavily invested in music education for both young and old so if you are looking to learn or want to expand your music knowledge then give Loog a look. You will not be disappointed. 

For more information visit https://loogguitars.com/

Author Bio:-  Rachael is a content writer at plantsumo.com, who has written on a Ultimate Resume Guide, from colored diamonds to SEO software. In her spare time, she enjoys singing, sketching, cooking, and video games.

Pre-Order HERE

Watch the Official Video for Debut Single “In Stride” HERE

Pre-Order The Ides Of March HERE

The Ides Of March tracklisting:1) Get Along                           
2) A Thousand Words
3) In Stride
4) The Ides of March
5) Wake Me When It’s Over
6) Love Rain Down
7) Tell It Like It Is
8) Moonshot
9) Wanderlust Begins
10) Sifting Through The Fire
11) Worried Mind

The Ides Of March will be available in the following formats:
– Digital Album
– 1 CD Jewel Case
– 1 CD Digipack (Napalm mailorder, limited to 500 worldwide)
– 2 LP Gatefold Black Vinyl
– 2 LP Gatefold Gray Vinyl 
– 2 LP Gatefold Bottle Green Transparent Vinyl (Napalm mailorder, limited to 400 worldwide)
– Die Hard Limited Edition: 2 LP Gatefold Clear Splatter Mint/Violet/White Vinyl + Aluminum Print (Napalm mailorder, limited to 300 worldwide)
– Limited Deluxe Box: Glow In The Dark Vinyl + Cover Artprint + 7” Glow In The Dark “A Thousand Words” Vinyl Demo Single + Pendant + Slipmat (Napalm mailorder, limited to 700 worldwide)

Todd La Torre is the lead vocalist for the heavy metal band Queensryche. On February 5^th Todd released his debut solo album titled “Rejoice in the Suffering” via Rat Pack Records. Media Mikes had the chance to speak with Todd recently about the albums creation, working his friend Craig Blackwell and what it’s been like working on and releasing and album during the pandemic.

Adam Lawton: Can you give us some background on the new album “Rejoice in the Suffering”?

Todd La Torre: This is a record I have wanted to do now for many, many years. Due to the rigorous touring schedule I normally have things keep getting moved to the back burner and shelved. Once the pandemic hit and touring was officially shut down I called my friend Craig Blackwell who co-wrote the album with me and who also plays guitar, keys and bass to help me get this done. We wrote and recorded the album in about four months. We wanted to write songs that brought us back to our roots as fans of heavy metal and something we could listen to while cruising around in our cars.

AL: Being this was something you had wanted to do for some time now how much of the album was written prior to getting together with Craig?

TL: We had the title track which was written around 2015. That was the only completed song at the time. Craig had a few other ideas and some riffs but we never really sunk our teeth into everything until March of last year. Other than “Rejoice in the Suffering” and maybe a verse for “Pretenders” that was all we really had to start with. The majority of the record was really crafted from scratch when we first got together last year.

AL: Was your writing process for this record similar to when you are working with Queensryche?

TL: For me it was very different. In Queensryche you have five guys in the band. All the guys will have different things that they have written that they then bring to the group. They may have ideas or songs that are different from what I might do and there are a lot more people involved with the process. With this it was just myself and Craig. We were able to move along pretty quickly being it was just the two of us. A lot of these were written in less than a couple days. For instance “Crossroads to Insanity” Craig gave me the music and I had all the lyrics in about a day and a half. “Vanguards of the Dawn Wall” was another one that was written in two days. A lot of these songs were done in a similar amount of time. Queensryche can take a very long time as it’s a totally different process.

AL: How did you keep yourself from going too far into the creative aspects of the record being there were just two of you working on it?

TL: I wanted things to be groove oriented. Craig is a great player and I was able to build on that and really craft the drums around his playing. He would sit down work out everything for his solos as opposed to just noodeling. No page was left unturned by any means but we defiantly didn’t want to over think things either.  

AL: Given the lack of touring and promotion options right now due to the pandemic what made you decide to go ahead and release the album when you did?

TL: The release of this was never contingent on touring live. This was just an artistic expression with me and my friend writing songs and putting them out there for people to listen to. If I am able to do some shows around the album later on in the future that would be awesome. I don’t earn a living as a solo artist as Queensryche is my priority. The timing of this release had no bearing on when I could tour or support the record like I would with a Queensryche release. By putting the record out early and ahead of others I think it’s going to get a little more hang time and I can enjoy it being out there for a whole year. Another plus of releasing the album now is that generally when you release an album you start touring the next day. You are then playing brand new material that not everyone has heard yet and the response might not be that great because of that. With this having extra time to get out to fans due to both the pandemic and my work with Queensryche I think when/if I get to do a solo show its going to make it that much better as people will have had ample time to absorb the music.

AL: What was the reception like from the other Queensryche guys when you told them you were planning to do a solo record?

TL: They have heard me talking about this for quite a few years now. When the pandemic hit we were all trying to figure out what that meant and what we were going to do. Up until that point we had been working our asses off for 9 years since I joined the band. This was a much needed break for everyone. The guys were very receptive and thought this was a great time to be able to do it. I knew if I didn’t do it now that quickly things would be starting up again with Queensryche. This could not have come at a better time for me. Things are done, the record is out and I can go on and only have to focus Queensryche. The guys were very happy for me to be able to show other sides of myself as a musician.

AL: Do you see yourself doing another solo album when time allows?

TL:  I will do another record. I already have three songs written that are much heavier. I have other riffs and ideas that aren’t yet fully completed but those will most likely be on the second record as well. I am going to let this first one get some legs and traction and then once the new Queensryche album is done and out I will start making plans to get this second one out and then once the dust settles from everything I will release another one.

For more information on Todd La Torre and Craig Blackwell visit:

www.toddlatorre.com

www.facebook.com/official.toddlatorre

www.facebook.com/craigblackwellartist

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