Behemoth have announced In Absentia Dei, a groundbreaking immersive livestream spectacular which will broadcast on September 5th, 2020 from a secret church location in Poland. The event will be streamed in high definition 4K, with an immersive experience option, allowing viewers to choose from 8 different camera angles in the multi-camera shoot or watch the “Director’s Cut”. Tickets for this theatrical extravaganza are available now at https://www.behemoth.live. Parts of the performance may offend, so the footage is only recommended for fans 18+. Watch a trailer here: https://youtu.be/IgTJZg8YKDo

Special guests at the event will be mysterious black metal avant gardeists, Imperial Triumphant, whose set will come from The Slipper Room in New York City.

Behemoth front-man and visionary, Nergal informs us: “We bring a new offering for our faithful Legions! You’ve seen Behemoth in many places across the globe, but never before in the Holy Church. This is a truly innovative event of which the likes have not been seen before. There will be ritual, there will be sacrilege and all from the comfort of your home. A worldwide streamed event for A New Aeon indeed! In Absentia Dei.”

In Absentia Dei will also feature an hour long pre-show (which can be viewed for free at youtube.com/behemothofficial) commencing at 7pm CET / 6pm UK / 1pm EST / 10am PST, with the full 2 hour show beginning at 8pm CET / 7pm UK / 2pm EST / 11am PST, exclusively at https://www.behemoth.live

Ticket holders can watch the event up to 72 hours after the initial broadcast time. Reserve your ticket now at: https://www.behemoth.live. There is a 20% Early Bird discount on ticket prices until Midnight CET on 28th August and a run of limited edition event merchandise will also be available from https://www.behemoth.live, until 72hrs post-event, or until stocks last. Ticket and merch bundles are also on sale.

“…a gauzy, atmospheric brand of sludgy doomgaze…” — Revolver

View / Share THE WHITE SWAN’s “In Love And Ritual” Video HERE.

London, Ontario-based atmospheric sludge rock unit THE WHITE SWAN, spearheaded by Kittie’s Mercedes Lander, will release their entrancing Nocturnal Transmission EP September 18th.

The EP’s four tracks see the trio – Lander with Kira Longeuay and Shane Jeffers (Bloodmoon Collective) — wearing their collective heart on their sleeves, delivering over twenty minutes of sprawling, melodic sound waves. In December 2019, the band recorded three songs and a cover (Tracy Bonham’s “Tell It To The Sky”) of what can only be described as love songs. Lander has penned lyrics that chronicle the joy, desire, longing, and eventual feeling of completeness that comes with a romantic relationship. From the night drives through the snow in the early days, right through to the handcrafted guitar built as a wedding gift from her now husband, the intricacies of true love permeate every moment of Nocturnal Transmission. 

Reprising a long-time creative relationship with producer Siegfried Meier, Lander felt both at home and re-energized by the familiarity and collaborative nature of their work. Recording took just two days, retaining many of the hallmarks of THE WHITE SWAN‘s earlier output, but adding a slightly polished sheen to the proceedings. With vocal layering and touches of psychedelic synths adding textural elements to the songs, the result is an enveloping experience of fuzzed out guitars and molasses-like melody. Describing Nocturnal Transmission as a “turning point” for the band, the album art by collage artist Caitlyn Grabenstein reflects the feeling of standing on the precipice, staring into the unknown. Acknowledging that there will always be a constant sound to THE WHITE SWAN, Lander states that their main intention is to “grow and grow.” With an ever-developing sound and a solid combination of creative musicians in their ranks, Nocturnal Transmission is the latest in what is sure to be an ever expanding back catalog of triumphs. 

In advance of the release of Nocturnal Transmission, the band is pleased to unveil a video for opening track, “In Love And Ritual.” Now playing at Revolver, Lander elaborates, “‘In Love And Ritual’ is about finding the person that completes you and the journey of realizing how having that person in your life teaches us to become brand new; kind of like a rebirth of feeling and emotional connection. I really wanted to create space with this song, keeping the roller coaster of dynamics in the forefront with a touch of chaos running in the background. Having the lyrics and melody build with the music and really complement each other.” 

View THE WHITE SWAN’s “In Love And Ritual,” courtesy of Revolver, at THIS LOCATION.

Nocturnal Transmission will be released digitally and on limited edition vinyl via War Crime Recordings. For preorders go to THIS LOCATION.

Nocturnal Transmission Track Listing:

1. In Love And Ritual

2. Nocturnal Transmission

3. Purple

4. Tell It To The Sky (Tracy Bonham cover)

THE WHITE SWAN:

Mercedes Lander – drums, vocals, keyboards, guitar

Shane Jeffers – guitar

Kira Longeuay – bass

“The Butthole Burner” Guitar Effects Pedal

Steel Panther

Our Score 4 out of 5 stars

Hot! Spicy! Sexy! And, Feisty! Steel Panther presents the newest edition in its line of signature guitar effects pedals. “The Butthole Burner” distortion pedal will scorch eardrums and backsides with the click of a button.  

Limited to one production run, “The Butthole Burner” is a repacking of the controversial “P**** Melter” distortion pedal which was released in 2019. Housed in a brushed red metal casing complete with multi-colored knobs and light up “peppers” the “Burner” is capable of adding an edgy boost to your favorite tone or craft a completely new sound. With two levels of selectable distortion (Scorched and Balmy) and knobs for Jalepen-Low, Wasab-Hi, Gasoline (load out) and Lava Flow (load in) guitarists can quickly dial in a usable sound without having to read a lengthy user manual or take an advanced electronics class. The pedal can be powered by a single 9 volt battery or via a power adapter (not included).  

After a couple minutes of turning knobs and changing the micro switch between the two distortion options I found a setting within the Balmy mode that paired nicely with my current distortion. Acting as more of a boost in this situation the “Burner” gave me just enough boost and saturation to make my solo’s stand out above our standard mix. The Scorched setting was a bit more than I needed and at times was a touch shrill however, I am sure there are plenty of players out there who will enjoy the razor like attack when the pedal is cranked to the max in this configuration. One other thing worth mentioning is the switching. Like most high end effect’s pedals the “Burner” features a standard tru-bypass switch. The switch included on my pedal was a bit stiff and required a heavy step for it to fully engage. This threw me off the first couple of times I stepped on it as it did not engage like other pedals but after a direct, heavy downward step on the button the dual red LED’s lit up the pepper graphics and we were on our way to sonic goodness.

If you picked up the first iteration of this pedal “The P**** Melter” and are looking for something with a different sound you will probably  want to skip this pedal as aside from the new aesthetics electronically it is built on the same engine as its predecessor making for little to no difference in tonal variety. If you missed out on the controversial pedals initial release and, have been longing for a pedal that is as visually aggressive as its sound then head over to Steelpantherrocks.com and snag one of the remaining units as it will certainly add some excitement to your guitar sound.  

BAND SHARES VIDEO FOR FIRST SINGLE “KEEP ‘EM ALIVE” — WATCH
CLIP WAS SHOT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A BUMBLEBEE

In 1980 and 1981, The Damned went to Rockfield for a series of sessions that eventually became The Black Album, The Friday 13th EP, and Strawberries. Their time there produced some of The Damned’s greatest musical moments and memorable stories of horses, cows, vampires, rifles, and Lemmy. 

In 2019, The Damned returned to Rockfield studios to record the first new music since 2018’s Top 10 Evil Spirits album.

The new The Rockfield Files EP will be released on October 16 via Search And Destroy Records/Spinefarm/UMG. Pre-orders are live here. 

“Keep ‘Em Alive,” the first single from The Rockfield Files EP, is available now with an accompanying music video shot from the perspective of a bee going about its business. Watch it here. 

Bees are essential for pollinating crops, and in turn, human survival; 17 species are reportedly endangered in the UK — keep ’em alive! 

During the recording of the EP, the lineup included three out of the four The Damned members that were at the original sessions — David Vanian, Captain Sensible, and Paul Gray. There was also Monty Oxymoron on keyboards and Pinch on drums. Unbeknown to the band, this was to be the last recording with the long time drummer Pinch, who departed The Damned after their legendary show at The London Palladium last Halloween. 

For the first time, Tom Dalgety (Royal Blood, Rammstein, Ghost) took over the producer duties for the EP. He also mixed the tracks at his studio in Bath. 

THE ROCKFIELD FILES EP TRACK LISTING:

“Keep ‘Em Alive”

“Manipulator”

“The Spider & The Fly”

“Black Is The Night” 

The EP will be available in Black & Psychedelic Swirl Limited Edition Vinyl.

Been stuck at home in your mom’s basement since March? Tired of watching the same old shit on Netflix and Hulu? Have you had enough of Ancient Aliens, and the Tiger King? Ready to throttle that no-neck Danzig twin Big Ed from 90 Day Fiancé? GWAR has the solution! Your Lords and Masters are launching a brand new monthly variety show from their frozen fortress to warm the cockles of your cold dead hearts! “Undead From Antarctica” will premiere this Sunday at 9:00 PM Eastern, on GWAR’s YouTube Channel.

Watch a trailer for “Undead From Antarctica” HERE.

This is the show you’ve been hoping for ever since you went down the rabbit hole of “Phallus In Wonderland” so many years ago. You will be tortured by 30 minutes packed full of the sick and twisted entertainment you’ve come to expect from your lords and masters. In this episode you’ll get an in depth lessons on the History of GWAR, pound booze with JiZMak, witness an intimate conversion between Pustulus and Lzzy Hale of Halestorm, find your only real source for Fake News and if you are insanely lucky, you might be named as one of the Bohabs of the Week! And, oh yeah, did we forget to mention, we’ve got the X-COPS!!

If you survive the broadcast, airing immediately after UFA, you can enjoy the after-party: “Undead Live!” a live-cast where fans can ask questions of a member of GWAR and try to make sense of what will undoubtedly prove to be a confusing jumble of chaos. This week’s guest host will be BalSac the Jaws ‘o Death!

Sundays will be known as “Undead Night” from now on. Every second Sunday of the month will feature a new edition of “Undead From Antarctica ”, but you won’t have to spend the other 30 odd days missing your Scumdog Overlords, because on the intervening Sundays you will still get a new ”, where you can interact with GWAR from safely behind your computer screen.

“It’s like Saturday Night Live,” says BalSac, “except it’s not on Saturday, it’s on Sunday., And it’s not live, it’s undead, And it’s not on TV, it’s on your computer or phone. And…it’s funny.”

In additional GWAR news the band will be releasing 30th anniversary versions of “Scumdogs of the Universe.” The album will be available on CD, Double LP, Cassette and digital and is available for pre-order HERE. The limited edition box sets are nearly sold out and the last few are available exclusively at http://www.gwar.net 

Band To Perform Iconic Album In Its Entirety + Portion Of Ticket Proceeds To Benefit United Houma Nation

This year marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of DOWN‘s 1995-released, now classic debut, NOLA. Plans for select shows featuring vocalist Philip Anselmo, guitarists Pepper Keenan and Kirk Windstein, drummer Jimmy Bower, and bassist Pat Bruders performing the record in its entirety were sidelined due to the global pandemic. In its wake, the band is pleased to announce an exclusive livestream later this month!  

Fittingly dubbed The Quarter Century Throwdown, the high production, multi-camera event will take place August 29th at 6:00pm EST using cutting-edge streaming technology to create a one-of-a-kind virtual concert experience. The show will be rebroadcast August 30th at 6:00pm EST until September 1st at 6:00pm EST.

Comments the band, “DOWN was a simple band started by friends with a love of heavy music and the songs on the NOLA album were magic from the first rehearsal. We’re extremely grateful to be celebrating the NOLA record with a live stream that the world can see. Watch the show and plug in through your loudest stereo! We love y’all!”  

Livestream tickets and packages are available at THIS LOCATION with additional merch designs available HERE. 

10% of ticket sales will be donated to the United Houma Nation (UHN), a state-recognized tribe of approximately 17,000 members residing within a six-parish (county) service area encompassing 4,570 square miles. The six parishes — Terrebonne, Lafourche, Jefferson, St. Mary, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines — are located along the Southeastern coast of Louisiana. Within this area, distinct tribal communities are situated among the interwoven bayous and canals where Houmas traditionally earned a living. Although by land and road these communities are distant, they were historically very close by water. However, boat travel is no longer a viable option due to the effects of coastal erosion, which has left these waterways either nonexistent or impassable and, in many cases, completely open water that requires larger vessels for safe travel. The tribe today is presented with the unique challenges of preserving and maintaining its culture and way of life when the land is disappearing. The United Houma Nation is committed and dedicated to doing exactly that. 

In addition, 10% of proceeds raised from a special, limited DOWN/United Houma Nation t-shirt will also be donated to the UHN. For preorders, go to THIS LOCATION.   

With a collective resume encompassing Pantera, Corrosion Of Conformity, Crowbar, EyeHateGod, and so many others, DOWN puffed out its first haze of sonic smoke from the belly of gritty old New Orleans in September of 1995 with the release of NOLA. At that moment, they instinctively summoned something akin to a ritual. The record was largely credited with introducing the sound of underground New Orleans metal – “slow, super-heavy, doomsday guitar riffs stamped with Anselmo’s trademark bellow,” as described by NOLA.com / The Times-Picayune – to a worldwide audience. By October of 1995, NOLA peaked at number 57 on the Billboard 200 and remained on the chart for six straight weeks. The album spawned four singles: “Stone The Crow,” “Lifer,” “Temptation’s Wings,” and “Bury Me in Smoke.” “Stone The Crow” would move on to achieve commercial success when it reached number 40 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks charts, becoming DOWN‘s first top 40 song. Twenty-five years later, there’s still no mistaking those gargantuan riffs, swamp blues leads, crashing drums, and hypnotic howls for absolutely anybody else under the sun.

Hardcore band Terror announce the 10^th anniversary re-issue of Keepers of the Faith out October 2^nd via Century Media Records. The album will be available on 180g heavyweight vinyl and will include reworked artwork, a four page LP-booklet with liner notes and exclusive, never before seen photos. Pre-orders are available for purchase HERE.

“Could very well be the most important record Terror has made in our 20 years. This was more than music. It was a movement.  From the art, to the lyrics, to the songs and the all-around vibe surrounding this release. It was a super special time for Terror we won’t forget,” states Terror vocalist Scott Vogel about the re-issue.“A lot has changed in 10 years but one thing that hasn’t is the life these songs and this album still have. This record brought so much energy and momentum to the band and we thank everyone who made KOTF such a special piece of Terror,” adds drummer Nick Jett.

Keepers of the Faith – 10th Anniversary Reissue Tracklist:

SIDE A

1. Your Enemies Are Mine 1:4

02. Stick Tight 2:33

3. Return To Strength 2:40

4. The Struggle 2:20

5. Shattered 2:35

6. You’re Caught 2:18

7. Dead Wrong 2:50

SIDE B

1. Keepers Of The Faith 3:12

2. Stay Free 2:18

3. Hell And Back 3:05

4. Only Death 2:25

5. The New Blood 2:31

6. Defiant 2:56 

TERROR is so much more than 5 individuals making music. It is an energy, a force, a refuge and a voice for all the lost and unheard. This is an attempt to put to words that force expressing the band’s dreams, visions and hopes through the underground music medium of hardcore. This is the story of TERROR, the now legendary team of vets tirelessly sharing their ambitions live on stage over 300 times a year since their start in 2000. The band has no boundaries when playing a show. Performing a festival to thousands one day and following it up with a show in a squat the other is not an uncommon occurrence for this group. They simply want to perform for whoever is willing to listen. TERROR is welcoming to all crowds and groups, sharing the stage with such a diverse list of bands ranging from Hatebreed to Strung Out, Behemoth to the Bouncing Souls and Lamb of God to Trapped Under Ice. If someone wants to book it and the schedule is willing, they are there to inspire.

A decade’s worth of crafting their sound and presence has not worn down this outfit, as often happens to lessers of the genre, but rather it has merely honed their focus to a laser pinpoint. Through the maze of labels, lineups and album releases comes the current chapter in the series. “Keepers Of The Faith” is a worldwide call to the community, an attempt to hear back from the faithful on the front lines. A gathering in of allies, both diehards and new bloods. 13 new tracks produced by Chad Gilbert of New Found Glory (who’s also produced H2O) at Buzzbomb Studio in Orange County, CA and engineered by Paul Minor (Death By Stereo) and mixed by Matt Hyde (Slayer and Hatebreed). 

Terror is: 

Scott Vogel (vocals)

Nick Jett (drums)

Jordan Posner (guitar)

Martin Stewart (guitar)

Chris Linkovich (bass)

Pre-order Keepers of the Faith: HERE

On September 17^th, 2020, Six String Salute will premiere a virtual concert to support and celebrate the touring and venue crews who are the backbone of live music and depend on shows to make a living. Six String Salute will bring together guitarists and guitar-centric bands to share exclusive performances and great rock and roll stories in support of Crew Nation, a global relief fund for live music crews.

The debut of the event will stream worldwide exclusively on Live Nation’s YouTube channel and Live From Home platform, with 100% of net proceeds benefitting Crew Nation.

Artists confirmed to appear include: Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Steve Vai, Tommy Shaw (Styx) with the Cleveland Youth Orchestra, Rich Robinson (The Black Crowes), Halestorm, Rik Emmett (Triumph), Joe Satriani, Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake, TSO), Frank Hannon (Tesla), the triple guitar attack of Alice Cooper’s Nita Strauss, Tommy Henriksen and Ryan Roxie, plus Richard Williams (Kansas), Alex Skolnick (Testament), Jennifer Batten, Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum), Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Damon Johnson (Thin Lizzy, Alice Cooper), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Steve Cropper, Jesse Dayton, Steve Hackett (Genesis), Jeff Watson (Night Ranger), Nick Perri (The Underground Thieves), Sammy Boller, Ross the Boss, Joyous Wolf and more. 

Additionally, a number of crew members from prominent bands will also share their stories and tales from the road throughout the evening.

Six String Salute will be hosted by nationally syndicated radio personality Steve Black (The Chop Shop).

Limited edition merchandise will be available with proceeds benefiting Crew Nation. Fans can also make a direct donation to Crew Nation via the event website. Crew Nation is powered byMusic Forward Foundation, a charitable 501c3 organization, which is administering the fund.

We hope you’ll join us in supporting them until we can once again unite millions around the world through the power of live music.

Six String Salute is being organized by Manic Merch, The Chop Shop Guitar Show, Chipster PR, Sun Broadcast Group and Live Nation.

Website: https://sixstringsalute.com/

Facebook: https://bit.ly/2F08Ko7

Teaser Video: https://bit.ly/31osDg0

Pre-Orders Available Now

It has been thirty of your Earth “years” since your Lords and Masters GWAR released what many consider to be the band’s career-defining album “Scumdogs of the Universe.” In celebration of this momentous occasion, GWAR are pleased as piss to unveil 30th anniversary versions of “Scumdogs of the Universe.” 

The album will be available on CD, Double LP, Cassette and digital and is available for pre-order HERE. 

The limited edition box sets are nearly sold out and the last few are available exclusively at http://www.gwar.net 

Check out a clip of GWAR performing the classic track “Maggots” HERE.

In more GWAR news, the band has teamed up with Creature Skateboards for a limited edition of GWAR skate decks. Only Creature can facilitate 30 years of GWAR on a skateboard. Well, actually it takes 4 boards ranging from 8.25″ – to 9″ wide to celebrate that many years of gore-drenched filth and torment of the human race. Creature is proud to offer these GWAR decks (with graphics provided by the band themselves!) to you special maggots that just can’t get enough vomit and secretion from the legendary group of space pirates! Act quick ‘cause these vile sticks are already marching out the door.

Hail GWAR! These decks will be available at your local skate shop and online HERE.

Acclaimed Los Angeles band Bad Religion have just released a radically reimagined version of their 1990 humanist anthem “Faith Alone.” The re-recording uses an uncharacteristic orchestral arrangement to further accentuate the song’s remarkably relevant lyrics. It is a philosophy Bad Religion have extolled since their very formation and has inspired songs like “The Answer,” “Atheist Peace,” and “American Jesus” that rail against religious hypocrisy and anti-intellectualism.

While the original “Faith Alone” was delivered as a propulsive guitar fueled punk track on the band’s album Against The Grain, the new interpretation begins with singer and co-songwriter Greg Graffin’s plaintive vocals accompanied on acoustic piano, before building to an unabashedly symphonic crescendo complete with sophisticated string arrangement. The result is a startling sonic departure from the band’s patented melodic punk sound and only serves to emphasize the song’s emotional power and intensely relevant message that, in times like these, “faith alone won’t sustain us anymore.”

LISTEN TO “FAITH ALONE 2020”

As the band’s singer and co-songwriter Greg Graffin explains, “I have always written songs on piano. Some of our earliest songs were written on my mom’s piano. I’ve been home a lot and so I started recording a bunch of our songs that way. Brett (Gurewitz) thought ‘Faith Alone’ was particularly relevant for this moment. For me, it exemplifies what’s special about the band, which is that we write songs that go to the spiritual and intellectual aspects of human existence.”

The recording of the song was done remotely. Graffin’s initial vocal and piano tracks augmented by the band’s co-songwriter Brett Gurewitz who added additional instrumentation including guitar. The strings were added by Stevie Blacke (Beck, Lady Gaga, Garbage) and the drums played by Bad Religion drummer Jamie Miller while producer Carlos de la Garza added additional production and a mix. 

Gurewitz explains, “I think the message of ‘Faith Alone’ really resonates with everything that’s happening right now. Racial injustice, Trump, the COVID pandemic, the rejection of science, none of these things can be solved by burying our heads in the sand. We’ve always believed problems can be solved through reason and action, not faith and prayer. It’s what we’ve been writing about since the band started.”

With this release, Bad Religion have added yet one more powerful work to an already formidable canon of intellectually provocative protest songs. Since forming as leather clad intellectual teens amidst the raucous Southern California punk scene, the group has served as unflinching advocates for reason and humanism. It is a message that has never been more necessary.

Greg M. Epstein, Humanist Chaplain at both Harvard and MIT, as well as the NY Times best-selling author of ‘Good Without God’, offers, “If I could take the frustration, grief, longing, and moral outrage rattling around in my brain these past few months and somehow turn it all into a single rock track that could help me stay human in this mess, that track would be ‘Faith Alone’ by Bad Religion. Sure, it’s a stylistic departure for one of the greatest punk bands of all time. But the message is as true to the band’s core ethic as anything in their decades-long catalog. It might just be the anthem we need to maintain our faith—not in religion, but in each other—as we try to get through the rest of this year.” 

ABOUT BAD RELIGION
Bad Religion, formed in 1980 in the suburbs of Los Angeles, has become synonymous with intelligent and provocative West Coast punk rock and are considered one of the most influential and important bands in the genre. Bad Religion has continually pushed social boundaries and questioned authority and beliefs armed only with propulsive guitars, charging drumbeats, thoughtful lyrics and an undying will to inspire and provoke anyone who will listen.

The band’s critically acclaimed 17th studio album Age of Unreason offers a fiery and intensely relevant musical response to the times, with songs that address a myriad of socio-political maladies, including conspiracy theories, racist rallies, Trump’s election, the erosion of the middle class, alternative facts and more. There is a stylistic consistency to the band’s iconic and influential sound – hard fast beats, big hooks and rousing choruses, yet each new song remains distinctive, utilizing composition, melody and lyrics to deliver a unique narrative consistent with the band’s longstanding humanist worldview.

On August 18, Bad Religion will release their autobiography, DO WHAT YOU WANT: The Story of Bad Religion, written with their full cooperation and support. It reveals the ups and downs of the band’s 40-year career, from their beginnings as teenagers experimenting in a San Fernando Valley garage dubbed “The Hell Hole” to headlining major music festivals around the world. The book predominantly features the four principal voices of Bad Religion in a hybrid oral history/narrative format: Greg Graffin, Brett Gurewitz, Jay Bentley, and Brian Baker. It also includes rare photos and never-before-seen material from their archives.

Band To Perform LIVE from Pittsburgh, PA on September 11^thand Scranton, PA on September 12^th  Tickets now available here: https://bit.ly/PantherTourDates

Move over NASCAR! The band that burns more rubbers than Bubba Wallace, Steel Panther is bringing their debaucherously fun concert experience to Pennsylvania this September. The band is going to be performing LIVE at two Pennsylvania area drive-ins this coming September as part of the FAST CARS & LOUD GUITARS TOUR. While it is only 2 tour dates at present, the band will be at the Starlite Drive In located in Pittsburgh, PA on September 11^th and the Circle Drive In located in Scranton, PA on September 12^th. The band will be rocking live on stage as the performance is broadcast on the movie screen with the audio available via an outdoor PA system as well as in everyone’s car via FM transmitter. This will help to keep all attendees socially and sexually distant. Ticket information for both drive-in shows on the FAST CARS & LOUD GUITARS TOUR can be found at: https://bit.ly/PantherTourDates.  

“Bring your hot rod and hot dates to the concert event of the weekend. This ain’t your momma’s NASCAR. This is Steel Panther live and out of our cage in Los Angeles. You’re welcome Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, the local government has informed us that it is totally ILLEGAL to attend this concert naked. They blamed Covid; so please STILL wear a mask when you’re around strangers!” 

The 2 live drive-in shows come as Steel Panther continue to set new career goals for themselves. The band will be performing another virtual concert event, Rockdown In The Lockdown on Sunday, August 16^th from the ultra-sanitized, production-filled, multi-camera Drum Channel Studio at Drum Workshop located in Oxnard, CA. The show will be live globally at 2:00PM Los Angeles time, 5:00PM New York City time, 10:00PM (22:00) London time, 11:00PM (23:00) Berlin time, 5:00AM (Monday morning) Hong Kong time and 7:00AM (Monday morning) Sydney time.  

Rockdown In The Lockdown will be slightly different from what fans saw last time. Steel Panther has filmed a series of sketch comedy pieces that will be played throughout the show giving the virtual experience more depth and laughs. The band will again be interacting with fans around the globe via a live chat. Tickets for the virtual concert will cost $15.00 each; with proceeds from each ticket sold going to benefit a local Los Angeles animal rescue and Live Nation’s Crew Nation Fund (benefitting all touring personnel affected by the Covid-19 pandemic).

All fans who purchase tickets to the concert will get access to Steel Panther’s Rockbuster Video Store. The Rockbuster Video Store will be a place where fans can access exclusive content to stream for a period of time. Currently, The Concert To Save The World, Live From Lexxi’s Mom’s Garage and the black metal video version of “Let’s Get High Tonight” is available with ticket purchase and more content will be added.

Anyone who has purchased the band’s latest effect pedal The Butthole Burner prior to the concert will get a free ticket to the event. The “You Can’t Beat The Meat & Greet” VIP upgrade is also available that includes access to a virtual one-on-one meet & greet, private video chat with 2 band members and a screen shot selfie.  

Rockdown In The Lockdown is being sponsored by Monster Energy and all tickets and VIP upgrades are available here: https://lnk.to/steelpantherlive.

THE REIMAGINED VERSION OF THE BAND’S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED
2019 RELEASE HELLO EXILE WILL BE RELEASED DIGITALLY
SEPTEMBER 25 AND ON VINYL NOVEMBER 13

Philadelphia-based punk band, The Menzingers will release From Exile, a reimagined stripped down version of their 2019 release Hello Exile. From Exile was recorded from the band’s respective homes while in isolation during COVID-19 stay at home orders. The album will be released digitally on September 25 and on vinyl November 13. Fans can pre-order the vinyl now via the band’s webstore, here.

Today, the band share “Strawberry Mansion” and “High School Friend” from the forthcoming release.

LISTEN TO “STRAWBERRY MANSION” & “HIGH SCHOOL FRIEND” NOW

The Menzingers were on tour in Australia when the world seemed to abruptly stop due to COVID-19, forcing the band to cut their tour short and make their way back to Philadelphia. “The live music industry vanished before our eyes, and just like that we were out of work like tens of millions of others,” notes singer/guitarists Greg Barnett. “As the weeks progressed the upcoming tours got rescheduled, then rescheduled again, then effectively cancelled. There were times when it all felt fatal. There’s no guide book on how to navigate being a working musician during a global pandemic, so we were left to make it up as we went along. We wanted to document and create in the moment, and though we couldn’t be in the same room together due to social distancing lockdowns, we got creative.”

Over the next few months, the band would re-record Hello Exile from their separate locations. “We would track the songs from our own home studios, share the files via dropbox, and pray it all made sense when pieced back together. Initially, we planned for the album to be similar to our acoustic demo collection ‘On The Possible Past,’ but we quickly found out that this batch of songs benefited from more detailed arrangements,” adds Barnett. “We rewrote, and changed keys and melodies. We blended analog and digital instruments in ways we never had before. We dug through old lyric notebooks and added additional verses. We got our dear friend Kayleigh Goldsworthy to play violin on two songs. No idea was off limits. Hell, I even convinced the band to let me play harmonica on a song (no small feat!). The recording process ran from mid-March till June, and upon completion we sent it over to our dear friend and close collaborator Will Yip to mix and master.”

From Exile Track Listing
1. America (You’re Freaking Me Out) (From Exile)
2. Anna (From Exile) 
3. High School Friend (From Exile) 
4. Last To Know (From Exile) 
5. Strangers Forever (From Exile) 
6. Hello Exile (From Exile) 
7. Portland (From Exile) 
8. Strain Your Memory (From Exile)
9. I Can’t Stop Drinking (From Exile)
10. Strawberry Mansion (From Exile) 
11. London Drugs (From Exile)
12. Farewell Youth (From Exile)

Since forming as teenagers in 2006, The Menzingers have shown their strength as rough-and-tumble storytellers, turning out songs equally rooted in frenetic energy and lifelike detail. To date, the band has released six studio albums, with their most recent, Hello Exile, released October 2019. Produced by Will Yip (Mannequin Pussy, Quicksand), Hello Exile sees The Menzingers take their lyrical narrative to a whole new level and share their reflections on moments from the past and present: high-school hellraising, troubled relationships, aging and alcohol and political ennui. With the band achieving that soul-baring intimacy all throughout the album, Hello Exile emerges as The Menzingers’ most emotionally daring work to date with Fader calling the album “The Menzingers’ greatest statement on adulthood to date.”

The Menzingers is singer/guitarists Greg Barnett and Tom May, bassist Eric Keen, and drummer Joe Godino.

Musician, Songwriter, Producer and Artist J.D. King has just released a new album titled “Moon Gardens”. Painstakingly recorded over three years on reel to reel analog equipment the album showcases Kings multitude of talents while being backed by an impressive stable of musicians all acting as intricate pieces within this audiophiles dream. Media Mikes had the chance to speak with King recently about the creation of the album, his decision to use only analog equipment and his plans for performing this material live.

Adam Lawton: Can you give us some background on the work that went into “Moon Gardens”?

J.D. King: After I had come off of the Olms project I was doing with Pete Yorne I started really getting in to the use of analog equipment. I wanted to make a 60’s style record the way they did back then. I was studying how album like the Beatles “Revolver” was made and albums like that. We did all the recording via analog and mixed it on tape as I wanted everything to sound just as it would as if it were recorded in the 60’s. I was meditating around eight hours a day and during that time I came up with all these song concepts. I had a good amount of vintage gear to start but then I acquired some more and found a few engineers who could mix on tape in the style that I was going for. We mixed everything live so that was another challenge we were working with as someone basically had to be turning knobs as we were performing. On the song “The Wooden Man” there is a panning part where the engineer was working the panning effect while I was turning some other knobs. With this record I wanted everything to come from the best place it possibly could. Every ingredient had to be the very top. From the musicians, the gear and the performances themselves I wanted the best.

AL: What was it about the 60’s era of recording that captured your interest?

JDK: I am a huge record fan. Even before all this quarantine stuff I would sit with a stack of records and just listen to music all day. I would even listen to some stuff on reel to reel. I never got a good feeling from digitally recorded music. It is less biological to me. I enjoy hearing over tones in music which is something generally missing from digitally recorded music. Honestly I think engineering from those eras was so much better and the standards were much higher.

AL: Working with older equipment did you run into any issues?

JDK: Sometimes we would have gear go down and it wouldn’t just be a simple fix like going to the store and getting a new one. Some of the gear we were using was from as far back as the 1930’s. When a pre-amp or something would go down during the middle of a session we would have to stop and take the time to find someone who was skilled in working on that type of equipment. This did cause some challenges from time to time.

 AL: You worked on this album for three years. Did the writing process take up a majority of that time or was it more from the high level of production you were going for?

JDK: I would generally get my group of session’s guys together once a month to jam and record. The rest of the time I was learning and experimenting with the engineering process as well as writing. I was working basically non-stop. I was wearing a lot of different hats and just had to figure all that stuff out. I think for the most part the time between the two was pretty equal. There were a lot of new things with this record both musically and technically. I wanted to expand and try some new things.

AL: At what point in time did you decide that the record was completed?

JDK: I think right around when I had twelve or thirteen songs. I felt things were rounded out and was happy with what I had. I think when people listen this in an album format it is going to really click. I am an album rock fan and I think that’s was I was able to do with this.

AL: Being that you play quite a few instruments how did you decide which ones you would play and on which tracks?

JDK: I would put the bones of each track down first. From there we would start rehearsing it and bringing the track to life. While doing that I would hear these things that I wanted to add as did the guys I was playing with. Stuff tends to happen in the studio while you are working.

AL: Did you find your creative process changed at all over the course of this record?

JDK: Things stayed pretty much the same for me as they always have been. If you listen to my first record I had a pretty big hand in the production of that record even though it was my first one. Every band I was playing in I always had this ear towards production. Pete (Yorn) is the same way. I learned a lot from him. We tried to work very fast over the course of this record. I have to give to those guys in the sixties as they had to bring their A games. You didn’t want to miss a take as you were recording directly to tape which was expensive. We had a couple tape issues which caused us to have to scrap a couple really good takes. I learned my lesson from that.

AL: With the current pandemic changing a lot of the way things are being done what are your plans to help get this music out to the public given the traditional in-person/live element of music is indefinitely on hold?

JDK: I am kind of lucky in that I learned so much about performing in a studio during this record. It was something you had to do. Having a background in photography I know about lighting and all those things as well so production comes simple for me. Being essentially a one man production crew I can throw up a few cameras and lights and I am set to go. I did a lot of painting over the winter so I can throw those up in the background as well and showcase a lot of my different talents. You can see a lot of what I have going on through my Instagram @mrjdking

Travel back in time to a carefree Labor Day weekend in 1982, when The B-52s: Live At The US Festival comes to DVD and digital platforms on September 4^th, from Shout! Factory. The performance features all five founding band members, and the film is dedicated to Ricky Wilson, who passed away 5 years after the US Festival performance. In brand-new interviews included in The B-52s: Live At The US Festival, band members Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, and Cindy Wilson talk about Ricky, and what he meant to their unique sound, along with memories of performing at the US Festival.

Dance this mess around with the all-time, good-time party band The B-52s in a wild and unforgettable live performance. This hour-long set, recorded at the inaugural US Festival in 1982, had the crowd dancing from start to finish, and was considered to be one of the best of the entire festival.

“It was hot as hell in the desert but as soon as we got going we had the audience dancing up a dust storm,” says Fred Schneider.

This rare footage shows off the joyous energy and unique spirit that has been a hallmark of their music and live performances for over 40 years.
Packed with 13 hits and favorites from the group’s early years, including “Rock Lobster,” “Planet Claire,” Private Idaho,” and others, Live At US Festival is the first-ever live concert DVD release from The B-52s’ classic era, and a tasty slice of rock history that’s an absolute must-see for anyone who likes to party out of bounds!

The B-52s: Live At The US Festival is available for pre-order now at Shoutfactory.com and amazon.com.

The B-52s: Live At The US Festival Performances:

Party Out Of Bounds

Give Me Back My Man                                                                               

Planet Claire

Throw That Beat In The Garbage Can                            

Lava

Mesopotamia

6060-842

Big Bird

52 GirlsDance

This Mess Around

Private Idaho

Rock Lobster

Strobe Light 

About Shout! Factory: Shout! Factory, LLC is a diversified multi-platform media company devoted to producing, uncovering, preserving and revitalizing the very best of pop culture. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their entire careers sharing their music, television and film favorites with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory’s entertainment offerings serve up feature films, classic and contemporary TV series, animation, live music and comedy specials. In addition, Shout! Factory maintains a vast entertainment distribution network which delivers culturally relevant programming, movie and audio content to all the leading digital service providers in North America and across multiple platforms. Shout! Factory owns and operates Shout! Studios, Scream Factory, Shout! Factory Kids, Shout! Factory Films, Mystery Science Theater 3000, Timeless Media Group and Shout! Factory TV. These riches are the result of a creative acquisition mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercial reinvention. Shout! Factory is based in Los Angeles, California. For more on Shout! Factory, visit shoutfactory.com.

About The B-52s: Selling over 20 million albums worldwide, The B-52s—Fred Schneider [vocals], Kate Pierson [vocals], Cindy Wilson [vocals], — have quietly impacted alternative music, fashion, and culture over the course of four-plus decades. They count John Lennon, Madonna, James Murphy, and Michael Stipe among their disciples. Panic! At The Disco, Blood Orange, The Offspring, Pitbull, Roger Sanchez, and DJ Shadow have sampled classics from the band’s discography as Seth MacFarlane’s FamilyGuy, The Simpsons, Sugarland, and more offered up covers of their own. They inched towards the forefront of the post-punk movement in America codified by 1979’s self-titled The B-52s. Not only did the record go gold, but it also placed at #152 on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” and #99 on VH1’s “Greatest Albums of All Time.” The gold-selling Wild Planet arrived hot on its heels in 1980. With Keith Strickland brilliantly filling the void in with music composition and live show guitar duties, 1989’s watershed Cosmic Thing elevated the B-52s to another galaxy altogether. It moved 5 million-plus units and spawned a string of Top 10 smashes in the form of the GRAMMY®-nominated “Roam” and “Love Shack”—which Rolling Stone lauded on the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”

Watch HERE
New Album, Macro, Out Now via Napalm Records
Get Your Copy HERE

While the majority of the metal community are enjoying the premiere of the Wacken World Wide XR live streams in this pandemic-struck summer, Ukrainian heavy hitters JINJER are celebrating the one-year anniversary of their groundbreaking Wacken Open Air 2019 performance by unleashing a blistering live video of their breakthrough song, “Pisces”, captured at the festival. Embody the summer concert vibe and witness JINJER taking the crowd at the world’s permiere metal festival by storm!

“Pisces” is the second track released from this historical show, with “Perennial” being the first released from the Wacken sessions – boasting over 3.2 million views and counting. 

WATCH “Pisces” Live At Wacken Open Air 2019 HERE

Devastating riffs, aggressive vocals, powerful melodies and astonishingly deep lyrics are what make their new album, Macro, JINJER’s most advanced and undeniable album yet – taking the listener on a journey of trauma, power struggle and greed with a progressive groove metal backdrop. 

Order Macro as well as the Micro EP HERE, and watch more videos below: 

“Judgement & Punishment”: WATCH

“On The Top”: WATCH

“Pit Of Consciousness”: WATCH

“On The Top Live In Kiev”: WATCH

“Retrospection“: WATCH

“Pit Of Consciousness Live In Kiev”: WATCH

About JINJER:
In under 10 years, the four-piece progressive groove metal wrecking machine known as JINJER have carved their very own place in the heavy metal landscape and are poised to go even further in 2019 and beyond. Hailing from Donetsk, this Ukrainian musical oddity formed in 2009, but consider the official start of the band with the addition of the incredible vocalist and femme fatale, Tatiana Shmayluk, in 2010. Since then, JINJER have been nominated and won the Best Ukrainian Metal Act award for Best Ukrainian Metal Band multiple times.  JINJER have built upon the successes of their previously released Micro EP with their latest full-length, Macro – boasting impressive worldwide chart debuts, remarkable critical acclaim, and millions of track streams and YouTube views – all the while selling out the vast majority of their international live performances in support. With Macro, JINJER have truly arrived in metal stardom territory and are on the verge of conquering it.

JINJER is:

Vocals: Tatiana Shmayluk

Guitar: Roman Ibramkhalilov

Bass: Eugene Abdukhanov

Drums: Vlad Ulasevich