VOCALIST JAMES DURBIN ANNOUNCES DEBUT DURBIN ALBUM

“THE BEAST AWAKENS” DUE FEBRUARY 12, 2021

FIRST SINGLE, ‘KINGS BEFORE YOU’ FT. CHRIS JERICHO & PHIL DEMMEL OUT NOW

Hailing from the shores of Santa Cruz, CA, USA, modern heavy metal revivalist James Durbin is on the verge of releasing his boldest, heaviest album to date with the announcement of the debut album from DURBIN, “The Beast Awakens”. Coming February 12, 2021 via Frontiers Music Srl, fans can get their first taste of the album with the release of the single ‘Kings Before You’ featuring Chris Jericho (Fozzy) and Phil Demmel (ex-Machine Head, Vio-lence). Listen to the song on your favorite streaming platform or on YouTube HEREhttps://youtu.be/7ojvtjwZYgM

Pre-order/save the album HEREhttps://orcd.co/beastawakens

James Durbin is finally releasing the album he has always wanted to over the course of his decade long recording career. Combining his love of all things DIO, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest, Durbin set out to craft his own signature strain of fantasy inspired power metal for his debut Durbin album, “The Beast Awakens”. 

“I’ve found a home for my creativity with Frontiers. They really share my vision for the type of metal I wish to create and we’re all excited to see where it will lead,” 

says Durbin. ‘Kings Before You,’ the first single released from Durbin’s forthcoming album, features guest vocals from Fozzy vocalist (and AEW Wrestling star) Chris Jericho and renowned guitar wizard Phil Demmel (BPMD, ex-Machine Head).

For each of the solo sections on the remainder of the album tracks, Durbin called upon his own axe wielding brethren to help out. Jon Yadon Jr., Marc Putnam, Dylan Rose, and Nick Gallant all contributed guitar solos for the album. Due to the situation with COVID-19, the album was recorded largely remotely, with only Durbin himself, alongside his producer Ellison, occupying the recording studio. Durbin says,

“the fact that the album sounds the way it does, with the way it was recorded, is a testament to the passion of everyone involved. I am very grateful for all the love and care that was given to my songs and I can’t wait to unleash my metal upon the world.”

All the songs included on “The Beast Awakens” were written solely by Durbin himself. “2020 has been such a strange year for all of us. Coincidentally, our shelter in place order happened just as I had begun writing for the album. It really forced me to write by myself and not rely on others to write the riffs for me. And then to write the lyrics and melodies too,” tells Durbin. 

Once the songs were written and demoed by Durbin, he brought in the rhythm section of virtuoso drummer Mike Vanderhule (Y&T) and master bassist Barry Sparks (Ted Nugent, Scorpions, Dokken, B’z). With Durbin handling the album’s rhythm guitars, his core lineup was complete. 

James Durbin is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Santa Cruz, California. Many associate his name with his appearance on Season 10 of American Idol (2011), where he was unabashedly flying the flag for heavy metal. In fact, on the finale, he appeared with undisputed metal gods Judas Priest for rousing renditions of “Livin’ After Midnight” and “Breaking the Law” and also appeared with legendary guitarist Zakk Wylde. This was followed by Durbin’s debut album, 2011’s “Memories Of A Beautiful Disaster” that blended a mix of hard hitting riffs, vulnerable lyrics, and Durbin’s signature scream. James has also worked and performed alongside many incredible musicians including Stevie Wonder, Don Was, Sheryl Crow, Tom Jones, Mick Mars of Mötley Crüe, Bob Babbitt of The Funk Brothers, and Steel Panther, just to name a few. 

Durbin’s signature vocal prowess and powerful stage presence have earned him stamps of approval and praise from rock and metal royalty like Steven Tyler, Sammy Hagar, Rob Halford, and more. He has four full length albums to his name, in addition to lending his voice to a handful of various albums.
James Durbin is an artist on the rise and a performer you don’t want to miss. Expect his debut record under the name “Durbin” in early 2021. Fans of heavy metal revivalists like Haunt, Eternal Champion, Sumerlands, Enforcer, and the like, as well as hard rock and classic heavy metal fans in general are in for a treat!

ALICE COOPER UNVEILS ROCK & ROLL THE FIRST SONG FROM THE UPCOMING STUDIO ALBUM “DETROIT STORIES”

FEATURING: STEVE HUNTER, JOHNNY BEE, PAUL RANDOLPH, PLUS “HONORARY DETROITER” JOE BONAMASSA

“Rock & Roll”: A Detroit Story…

Alice Cooper releases “Rock & Roll” today as a first taste of the upcoming studio album Detroit Stories, coming February 262021 on earMUSIC.
“Rock & Roll,” a classic song by The Velvet Underground from the album Loaded, is not a casual choice: It’s a song of joy and celebration of that magical moment when we all first turned on Rock and Roll radio …and it saved our lives. 

Have a listen: Maybe it will save yours too!

Here are some interesting Detroit Stories for the fans of rock and roll trivia and for those who believe that nothing happens by chance (especially in Detroit). 

In 1971, the Alice Cooper Group was working in Detroit, with producer Bob Ezrin. Around the same time, also in Detroit, a band called… Detroit, which featured Mitch Ryder, Johnny Bee and Steve Hunter, recorded a heavy new arrangement of Lou Reed’s “Rock & Roll” also produced by… Bob Ezrin.

It was when he heard that version that Lou Reed decided to work with Ezrin on the follow-up to his monster hit album “Transformer.” Their collaboration produced the seminal and fascinating classic album Berlin.
But wait, there is more!  

Steve Hunter, the amazing guitar player who created the iconic main riff that drives Detroit’s cover of the song in 1971, ended up working with Ezrin on many of his productions. He toured and recorded with Alice and with Lou Reed as well…and that same riff is the backbone of this new recording of the song which was done in…Detroit, of course.

Alice Cooper and Lou Reed shared a relationship of mutual respect and friendship over the years. Bob and Lou collaborated several other times and were dear friends for 40 years. Alice and Bob can’t remember how many albums this is and have been creative partners for 50 years.

Listen to Alice’s powerful new version of Lou Reed’s “Rock & Roll” featuring Johnny “Bee” Badanjek (Detroit Wheels), Steve Hunter (Detroit), Paul Randolph (legendary Detroit jazz and R&B bassist) and special guests Joe Bonamassa and Tommy Henriksen (for this occasion, crowned “Honorary Detroiters”) here: https://alicecooper.lnk.to/RocknRoll

A visualizer for the single can be found on YouTube:https://youtu.be/wmkf57yffT0

Detroit Stories Alice’s upcoming new album, is a celebration of the sound and spirit of the Golden Era of Detroit rock. 

“Detroit was Heavy Rock central then,” explains Alice, “You’d play the Eastown and it would be Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, the Stooges and the Who, for $4! The next weekend at the Grande it was MC5, Brownsville Station and Fleetwood Mac, or Savoy Brown or the Small Faces. You couldn’t be a soft-rock band or you’d get your ass kicked.”

“Los Angeles had its sound with The Doors, Love and Buffalo Springfield,” he says, “San Francisco had the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane. New York had The Rascals and The Velvet Underground. But Detroit was the birthplace of angry hard rock. After not fitting in anywhere in the US (musically or image wise) Detroit was the only place that recognized the Alice Cooper guitar driven, hard rock sound and our crazy stage show. Detroit was a haven for the outcasts. And when they found out I was born in East Detroit… we were home.”

50 years later, Alice and Ezrin have united in Detroit with their Detroit friends to record Detroit Stories, Cooper’s new album.  If 2019’s Breadcrumbs EP laid down the trail to the city, Detroit Stories drives like a muscle car right down Woodward Ave.  

Discover Detroit Stories as they were meant to be told.

BLACK VEIL BRIDES Return With New Single “Scarlet Cross” From The Upcoming 2021 Album The Phantom Tomorrow

Epic Video Directed By Longtime Collaborator Patrick Fogarty Can Be Seen Here: http://smarturl.it/scarletcross

After teasing fans for days on social media, Los Angeles rockers Black Veil Brides are releasing a new single and video for the track “Scarlet Cross.” The song comes from the band’s upcoming 2021 concept album The Phantom Tomorrow – the band’s sixth full-length album. The album tells the story of the antihero character “The Blackbird” and a group of societal outcasts known as simply as “The Phantom Tomorrow.” The first single “Scarlet Cross” – produced by Erik Ron (Godsmack, Dance Gavin Dance, Bush) and guitarist Jake Pitts – is available via all digital partners today. 

The video for “Scarlet Cross” was directed by longtime collaborator Patrick Fogarty and based on a concept written by frontman Andy Biersack. The video was filmed on the Santa Clarita Studios backlot and is the first in a series of videos that will follow the story of the main character “The Blackbird.”. The video opens as a female member of “The Phantom Tomorrow” takes to the streets only to be discovered and followed. As things get dire, the “The Blackbird” arrives only to fade to black. Shot to look like an old school comic book serial, the video ends with the cliffhanger tease leaving the viewer unsure of the fate of the heroine or her attackers. The video for “Scarlet Cross” can be seen here: http://smarturl.it/scarletcross.

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 2021More information on the latest musical creation from Andy Biersack, Jake Pitts, Jinxx, Lonny Eagleton and Christian Coma will be available in the near future. 

“We are incredibly excited to share not only this new song ‘Scarlet Cross,’ but also our vision for the world of “The Phantom Tomorrow” and its characters. We are in the final stages of writing for this record and have begun work on our forthcoming “The Phantom Tomorrow” graphic novel. We intend to continue to share elements of the story in the coming months and can’t wait for everyone to see what we have been working on!” 

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.

Album Review: MOTÖRHEAD “Ace of Spades” 40th Anniversary Deluxe Collectors Box Set

“Ace of Spades” 40th Anniversary Deluxe Collectors Box Set

MOTÖRHEAD

BMG

3- 12” LP’s, 1- 10” EP, 1 DVD

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

In 1980, fresh off the back of two essential albums, “Overkill” and “Bomber” the previous year, MOTÖRHEAD continued to get bigger, better, louder and faster by the second. The “Ace Of Spades” album release was a magical moment in rock’n’roll history, an album which had enormous global impact and continues to resonate and inspire people worldwide. Fans to this day still remember where they were when they first heard it, and it immediately inspired bands worldwide to absorb the album’s energy, speed, and attitude into their own work. To commemorate the releases 40th Anniversary BMG has released the “Ace of Spades” 40th Anniversary Deluxe Collectors Box Set. The comes packed with 3 twelve inch LP’s, 1 ten inch EP, a Live DVD, Replica tour program, 40 page Ace of Spades history book, Rock Commando comic and to top it all off a poker dice game all of which comes housed in commemorative box which doubles as a game board.

 After the passing of MOTÖRHEAD founder and front-man Lemmy Kilmister in 2015 fans of the band were left wondering what would become of the work left behind by “The Worlds Loudest Band”. Thankfully BMG has been giving the bands catalog the royal treatment and nothing good be truer when it comes to this 40th anniversary package. After setting the bar high with 2019’s “1979” box set which focused on the “Overkill” and “Bomber” releases the “Ace of Spades” Anniversary editions is built on that foundation and taken “One Louder”. Housed in a heavy weight box with faux wood burned graphics the set grabs your attention even before you can gaze upon it’s enclosed treasures. Box sets often tend to be hit or miss by either not having enough content or a repetitive track listing that includes multiple versions of one song. I am here to say that “Ace of Spades” is neither of those! Yes the release focuses solely on this one album however the box set feature not only just on the album itself but also this period of the band as a whole. From the half speed mastered version of the studio album which sounds absolutely amazing, to two different live performances from 1981, a 19 track album of outtakes, B-sides and rarities titled “The Good, The Broke and the Ugly and a 10” EP containing seven instrumental tracks from the “Ace of Spades” sessions. That’s just the audio portion of the release! Also included is a DVD titled “Ace on Your Screens” which showcases original interviews related to the album as well as live and studio performances. Most collections would stop there but not this one! Going even further down the MOTÖRHEAD rabbit hole fans are treated to a reproduction of the “Ace Up Your Sleeve” 1980 tour book, a reproduction of the 1980 “Rock Commando” comic, a 40 page compilation piece by Kris Needs titled “Born  To Lose- Live To Win The Ace of Spades Story” and to top it all off a MOTÖRHEAD themed poker dice game (with the game board being printed on the inside of the box cover) every piece of this release was carefully planned out with the true fan in mind.

I can’t say enough good things about the look and quality of this release. All the record sleeves are printed on high quality cardstock and paper which add to the release’s aesthetic as even when its just sitting on your shelf the collection begs to be picked up and played. Given the sheer amount of material contained listeners should not get bored easily as the video and literary pieces add to the music providing a multi-pronged attack on your senses. Though the set does not include digital downloads of the material you do get a really cool dice game which on game night may help you recruit a few new unsuspecting listeners to your jean vested battalion and well that can’t be all that bad. MOTÖRHEAD “Ace of Spades” 40th Anniversary Deluxe Collectors Box Set is a must have for that headbanger in your life and with the holidays just around the corner get ahead of the game and tuck one of these beauties away.

BOX SET TRACKLISTING

Ace of Spades

Side One

Ace Of Spades

Love Me Like A Reptile

Shoot You In The Back

Live To Win

Fast And Loose

(We Are) The Road Crew

Side Two

Fire Fire

Jailbait

Dance

Bite The Bullet

The Chase Is Better Than The Catch

The Hammer

A Fistful Of Instrumentals

Side One

Ace Of Spades (demo)

Hump On Your Back (demo)

Shoot You In The Back (demo)

Fast And Loose (demo)

Side Two

Dirty Love (demo)

Love Me Like A Reptile (demo)

Dance (demo)

Riders Wearing Black

Live At Whitla Hall, Belfast – 23rd Dec 1981

Side One

Ace Of Spades

Stay Clean

Over The Top

The Hammer

Shoot You In The Back

Metropolis

Side Two

(We Are) The Road Crew

No Class

Bite The Bullet

The Chase Is Better Than The Catch

Side Three

Jailbait

Leaving Here

Capricorn

Too Late, Too Late

Side Four

Overkill

Bomber

Motörhead

Dead Man’s Hand

Live At Parc Expo, Orleans – 5th March 1981 Side One

Ace Of Spades

Stay Clean

Over The Top

Metropolis

Shoot You In The Back

Side Two

The Hammer

Jailbait

Leaving Here

Fire Fire

Love Me Like A Reptile

Side Three

Capricorn

Too Late, Too Late

(We Are) The Road Crew

No Class

Side Four

Bite The Bullet

The Chase Is Better Than The Catch

Overkill

Bomber

The Good, The Broke & The Ugly

Side One

Ace Of Spades (Alternative Version)

Dirty Love

Love Me Like A Reptile (Alternative Long Version)

Shoot You In The Back (Alternative Version)

Side Two

Hump On Your Back

Fast And Loose (Alternative Version)

(We Are) The Road Crew (Alternative Version)

Fire Fire (Alternative Version)

Jailbait (Alternative Version)

Side Three

Waltz Of The Vampire

The Hammer (Alternative Version)

Dirty Love (Alternative Long Version)

Bastard

Godzilla Akimbo

Side Four

Love Me Like A Reptile (Alternative Version)

Dirty Love (Alternative Version)

Please Don’t Touch (Performed by Headgirl)

Bomber (Performed by Girlschool)

Emergency

Ace On Your Screens DVD

Part 1: MOTÖRHEAD on TV 1980-1981

Part 2: BBC In The City; Live In Belfast ‘81

Part 3: 5.1 audio mix of Ace Of Spades

JULIEN BAKER ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM LITTLE OBLIVIONS OUT FEBRUARY 26 VIA MATADOR RECORDS

SHARES FIRST TRACK /VIDEO “FAITH HEALER

Julien Baker will release her third studio album, Little Oblivions, on February 26 via Matador Records. Today she reveals the first look at the album via “Faith Healer.” She says, “Put most simply, I think that ‘Faith Healer’ is a song about vices, both the obvious and the more insidious ways that they show up in the human experience. I started writing this song 2 years ago and it began as a very literal examination of addiction. For awhile, I only had the first verse, which is just a really candid confrontation of the cognitive dissonance a person who struggles with substance abuse can feel– the overwhelming evidence that this substance is harming you, and the counterintuitive but very real craving for the relief it provides.  When I revisited the song I started thinking about the parallels between the escapism of substance abuse and the other various means of escapism that had occupied a similar, if less easily identifiable, space in my psyche.

“There are so many channels and behaviors that we use to placate discomfort unhealthily which exist outside the formal definition of addiction.  I (and so many other people) are willing to believe whomever– a political pundit, a preacher, a drug dealer, an energy healer– when they promise healing, and how that willingness, however genuine, might actually impede healing.”   Watch the Daniel Henry-directed video here.

“Faith Healer” introduces the exhilarating, widescreen musical palette and infectious spirit of risk-taking found on Little Oblivions, a transformative sonic shift from Baker’s more spare and intimate previous work. Engineered by Calvin Lauber and mixed by Craig Silvey (The National, Florence & the Machine, Arcade Fire), both of whom worked with Baker on 2017’s Turn Out the Lights, the album was recorded in Baker’s hometown of Memphis, Tennessee between December 2019 and January 2020. Baker’s tactile guitar and piano playing are enriched with newfound textures encompassing bass, drums, synthesizers, banjo and mandolin, with nearly all of the instruments performed by Baker.  The album weaves unflinching autobiography with assimilated experience and often hard-won observations from the past few years, taking Baker’s capacity for starkly galvanizing storytelling to breathtaking new heights.

Little Oblivions is the follow up to Baker’s 2017 sophomore album and first on Matador, Turn Out The Lights.  The New York Times said Turn Out The Lights is “the work of a songwriter who has resonated with an international audience (…), the rare second album that, despite new self-consciousness, stretches beyond an unspoiled debut to reach for even bigger things, with all its passion intact”. The Sunday Times said “the mix of detached vocals, lush arrangements and laid-bare post-mortems on love, loss, dysfunction and acceptance is devastating”. Baker went on to perform songs from the album on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert and CBS This Morning.
In 2018 Baker formed boygenius with Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus. The resulting eponymous EP and joint North American tour made for one of the most celebrated and talked about musical communions of 2018, highlighting Baker among the forefront of a burgeoning generation of era-defining artists. 

Baker shot to worldwide attention in 2015 with show-stopping debut, Sprained Ankle. Recorded in only a few days, it was a bleak yet hopeful meditation on identity, addiction, faith, resilience and redemption. MOJO called it “comforting as it is unsettling as it is cathartic”, while Pitchfork noted, “if you prefer redemption songs to sound as raw as they feel, Sprained Ankle could bring you to your knees”. The album went on to appear on many end of year lists.

An intense and immersive performer, her live shows were described by The New Yorker as “…. hushed, reverential. The only sounds you hear between songs are her fingers as she tweaks the tuning on her electric guitar, scattered whispers between friends, and the rustling as the crowd waits patiently for Baker to start strumming again”.

Baker has collaborated on studio recordings with Frightened Rabbit, Matt Berninger, Becca Mancari, Mary Lambert, and on stage with Justin Vernon, The National, Sharon Van Etten, Ben Gibbard and others.

Album Review: GWAR “Scumdogs of the Universe” 30th Anniversary Edition

“Scumdogs of the Universe” (30th Anniversary Edition – Remixed and Re-mastered)

GWAR

Pit Records

Tracks: 13

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

The year is 2020, the day October 30th. An entire planet grasping for air, Impending doom hangs overhead like a thick fog, blinding all to the approaching hell. Mother Earth in chains, she pleads to her captor, “Spare the human race.” Emerging from a dank green cloud of alien gases, gripping his cuttlefish genitals, Oderus Urungus circa 1990 appears. Cocaine dust smeared beneath his nostrils, crust around his lips, Oderus stands before our earthly mother. He lifts his mighty sword to deliver one final blow. There is now no one standing between us and our alien masters. Our lords GWAR return to unleash their magnum opus upon us once again. Reborn, remixed, and re-mastered, “Scumdogs of the Universe” is back for the 30th Anniversary of human annihilation. Rest assured, doomsday sounds better this time around.

“So don’t you know? I’m so sick of you.” Croons front man Oderus Urungus  flanked by a legion of Scumdog brethren including Beefcake the Mighty, Flattus Maximus, Balsac the Jaws of Death, Jizmak Da Gusha,, one or two intergalactic hanger-ons and managed by the only human on earth coked out enough to tame these unwieldy beasts, the man with the “Worlds Tightest Pants”  Sleazy P. Martini. “Scumdogs of the Universe” is easily the bands least disliked album. Riddled with classics like “Sick of You”, Vlad the Impaler” and “Cool Place to Park” which along with the rest of the album received a special 30th anniversary Remix and Re-master courtesy of Ronan Chris Murphy.

Though GWAR may prefer to stick other things in their orifices, the music creeping its way into your pores is infectious and here to stay like a nasty case of Neptunian gonorrhea. Long time fans that by now should be well versed in these songs are given a fresh update that will help them relive the experience of hearing these tunes for the first time. This re-master is definitely one you need in your collection and butts up nicely against an original  Master pressing.

“Scumdogs of the Universe” 30th Anniversary Edition is available October 30th on Pit Records in a variety of formats. A must have for GWAR fans, profanity lovers, and metal-heads alike. Don’t miss the “Scumdogs XXX Live” live stream concert event the same day to see some live GWAR music. Check out GWAR.net for awesome pre-order packages of the album, tickets to the live stream event, and more updates on all things GWAR.

Track Listing:

1.) The Salaminizer

2.) Maggots

3.) Sick Of You

4.) Vlad The Impaler

5.) Slaughterama

6.) King Queen

7.) Horror Of Yig

8.) Love Surgery

9.) Sexecutioner

10.) The Years Without Light

11.) Black And Huge

12.) Death Pod

13.) Cool Place To Park

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS TO PERFORM PURPLE ALBUM IN ITS ENTIRETY

LIVESTREAM EVENT FRIDAY OCTOBER 16 @ 5pm PT / 8pm ET

 EXCLUSIVE MERCH AVAILABLE TO TICKET PURCHASERS

@WATCH.STONETEMPLEPILOTS.COM

Stone Temple Pilots will perform their iconic album, Purple in its entirety for an epic livestream event, Friday October 16 @ 5pm PST / 8pm EST via watch.stonetemplepilots.com

When Stone Temple Pilots returned to the studio in 1994 to record the band’s second album, the quartet was facing the high expectations set by its debut Core, which sold more than eight million copies and earned a Grammy Award. The release of Purple would cement their place as one of the definitive bands of their generation as the album debuted #1 on the Billboard album chart on its way to selling more than six million copies.

Tickets for the livestream event are $10.00 and can be purchased HERE

Exclusive STP merch will be available to ticket purchasers. 

CIRCLE JERKS’ SEMINAL ALBUM GROUP SEX TURNS 40!

TRUST RECORDS ANNOUNCE DELUXE REISSUE INCLUDING:

Unreleased photos and anecdotes from Tony Hawk, Mike Patton, Shepard Fairey, Ian MacKaye, Lars Frederiksen & more.

Quality repackaging with remastered audio in a limited colored vinyl schema. 

Deluxe packaging by Robert Fisher (designer of Nirvana’s Nevermind).

Bonus recording of a 1980 rehearsal.

WATCH THE OFFICIAL ALBUM TRAILER HERE
RIOT FEST + EU/UK/JP 2021 ANNIVERSARY TOUR

Trust Records, a new label from punk and industry vets Matt Pincus and Joe Nelson, is thrilled to announce its debut release — 1980’s landmark, Group Sex — from Los Angeles hardcore stalwarts, the Circle Jerks. Out October 30, the genre-shaping fifteen minute album was the first release for vocalist Keith Morris (OFF!) after leaving Black Flag and was a key record to the early hardcore punk movement. Backed by Greg Hetson (ex Redd Kross, ex Bad Religion), Lucky Lehrer (ex-Bad Religion, ex-Wasted Youth, ex-Redd Kross) and Roger RogersonGroup Sex is nothing less than a crucial record to the hardcore punk movement. 

Trust Records was formed to give classic punk and hardcore records the home that they deserve. The great records of the genre sprung from DIY roots to influence millions of disaffected kids around the world. Unfortunately, many of these seminal records of this great genre have been treated poorly in the streaming age – out of print, under-monetized or not properly accounted for. Trust Records’ mission is to correct this problem and treat punk and hardcore with the same reverence that other great genres like folk, jazz and blues have received. 

“Before they had a name for the label Matt and Joe came to [us] with an opportunity of a lifetime,” says vocalist Keith Morris. “So choosing the name Trust Records is very appropriate as they’ve been nothing short of trustworthy and people of their word. That’s insanely important when navigating through the music branch of showbiz world!”

In celebration of Group Sex’s 40th anniversary, Trust will present the seminal release with deluxe packaging by Robert Fisher, designer of Nirvana’s Nevermind, a bonus recording of a 1980 rehearsal, a 20-page booklet including unreleased photos and anecdotes from Tony HawkMike PattonShepard FaireyIan MacKayeLarsFrederiksen and many more, in addition to a quality repackaging in a limited colored vinyl schema. The remastered audio will be released across all digital retailers and vinyl format.

For more info and to pre-order go here:https://kingsroadmerch.com/circle-jerks/

Circle Jerks’ official anniversary tour, originally set for this summer, has been rescheduled for 2021. The run currently covers Europe, United Kingdom, Japan, Riot Fest and is subject to change. The lineup will consist of Keith Morris (vocals), Greg Hetson (guitar), Zander Schloss (bass) and drummer to be announced.

See below for a full rundown of dates and go here for tickets.

Group Sex Track Listing:
SIDE A 

01. Deny Everything 

02. I Just Want Some Skank 

03. Beverly Hills 

04. Operation 

05. Back Against The Wall 

06. Wasted 

07. Behind The Door 

SIDE B 

08. World Up My Ass 

09. Paid Vacation 

10. Don’t Care 

11. Live Fast Die Young 

12. What’s Your Problem 

13. Group Sex 

14. Red Tape 

15. What’s Your Problem (1980 Band Rehearsal) 

16. Red Tape (1980 Band Rehearsal) 

17. I Just Want Some Skank (1980 Band Rehearsal) 

18. Beverly Hills (1980 Band Rehearsal) 

19. Live Fast Die Young (1980 Band Rehearsal)

40th Anniversary Tour Dates:
All Tickets and updates available here.

7.28.2021: Lisboa, Portugal – RCA Club 

8.01.2021: Le Garric, France – Xtreme Fest 

8.02.2021: Paris, France – Paris Punk Rock Summer 

8.04.2021: Camden, United Kingdom – Electric Ballroom 

8.05.2021: Blackpool, United Kingdom – Rebellion Festival 

8.06.2021: Duffel, Belgium – Brakrock Ecofest 

8.07.2021: Amsterdam, Netherlands – Melkweg 

8.09.2021: Kӧln, Germany – Gloria-Theater 

8.10.2021: Hamburg, Germany – Knust 

8.11.2021: Berlin, Germany – SO36 

8.13.2021: Tolmin, Slovenia – Punk Rock Holiday 

8.14.2021: Igea Marina, Italy – BayFest 

8.16.2021: Helsinki, Finland – Tavastia Club 

9.03.2021: Musashino, Tokyo, Japan – Club Seata 

9.05.2021: Kobe, Hyogo, Japan – Harbor Studio

9.17-19.2021: Chicago, IL – Riot Fest

ACE FREHLEY RELEASES NEW ALBUM ORIGINS VOL. 2 VIA ENTERTAINMENT ONE

FEATURING JOHN 5, LITA FORD, BRUCE KULICK,
ROBIN ZANDER & MORE

Founding KISS guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame member Ace Frehley released his highly-anticipated second collection of eleven rock ‘n’ roll covers, titled Origins Vol. 2, today via Entertainment One (eOne). The record acts as the sequel to Frehley’s 2016 album Origins Vol. 1 and continues his reflections on a lifetime in music and inspiration.

Frehley is joined by friends on guest appearances, such as Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, former KISS comrade Bruce Kulick, John 5, and Lita Ford. Frehley and company tackle high energy versions of deep cuts and classics by Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and other musical touchstones of rock.

No stranger to cover versions throughout his musical history — having recorded, rebranded, and repossessed such notable nuggets as “New York Groove,” “Do Ya” and “I Wanna Go Back” throughout his eight previous studio efforts — this new collection presents a thoughtful and exciting selection of songs that inspired and helped shape the legendary guitarist.

REB BEACH ANNOUNCES NEW SOLO ALBUM “A VIEW FROM THE INSIDE” DUE NOVEMBER 6, 2020

FIRST SINGLE, ‘INFINITO 1122’ OUT NOW

Reb Beach has announced that his long in the works instrumental solo album will now see the light of day. “A View From The Inside” is slated for a November 6th release via Frontiers Music Srl. A new single and video, ‘Infinito 1122‘ is out today. See the video HEREhttps://youtu.be/cN_m-jz772k

Pre-order/save “A View From The Inside” HEREhttps://orcd.co/rebbeach

An album that showcases the dynamic talents of the guitar virtuoso, hard rock fans will be transported back to the days when giants like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani dominated the mainstream consciousness (and airwaves), while also simultaneously being shown a guitarist ever pushing himself forward into the future. 

Reb Beach is one of the indisputable guitar giants of the current hard rock scene. His resume with ‘80s/’90s mega-stars Winger alone would earn him this distinction, but his legacy is cemented by his current membership and work with the legendary Whitesnake, his past efforts with Dokken, and his recent release with supergroup Black Swan, also featuring Jeff Pilson, Robin MacAuley, and Matt Starr. 

Influenced by the legendary hard rockers of the ‘70s, Reb spent his teen years jamming along with the greats of that era like Aerosmith and Montrose, but it was when he discovered more progressive players like Steve Morse, Allan Holdsworth, and Larry Carlton that his musical world really opened up. The complexity and the speed of the more prog style of playing was a unique challenge compared to the blues-based playing of most musicians of that era. The discovery of these players was ultimately the catalyst that drove his playing to the level he is now so well known to music fans the world over for. Beach eventually graduated from his home practice space to the Berkeley School of Music, but after a couple of semesters he moved on and soon became one of the most sought-after session players in the music industry, working with such all-time great talents as Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Roger Daltrey, Chaka Kahn, Howard Jones, and Twisted Sister. 

While living in NYC, he hooked up with his future bandmate, bassist and frontman Kip Winger. Reb and Kip formed the band Winger and the rest is history. The two proved to be incredible writing partners, crafting multiple platinum records that featured no less than six Top Forty singles. with music that was commercial yet complex. 

After Winger went on a hiatus in the ‘90s, Beach’s career continued thanks to collaborations with Alice Cooper, Dokken and Night Ranger and he debuted as a solo artist in 2002 with the album “Masquerade”. 

Following the Winger reunion in the ‘00s, Reb heard that David Coverdale was looking for a new guitarist for Whitesnake. He reached out to him and since 2003, Reb has toured the world with the band as well as released multiple albums with them, including “Good to Be Bad,” “Forevermore,” “The Purple Album,” and the recent “Flesh & Blood,” plus a number of live albums.

Reb Beach will now release his first instrumental album, but this is not a mere exercise of self-indulgence. It is the culmination of over 30 years of study and extremely hard work on his craft. Fans of Steve Morse and Joe Satriani will find a lot to love in the 11 songs on offer here, but while there is certainly a lot of ear candy for the musician types, fans of hard rock in general will find a wealth of melodies and transcendent moments where the songs simply make you forget there are no vocals.

Tracklist:

1. Black Magic

2. Little Robots

3. Aurora Borealis

4. Infinito 1122

5. Attack Of The Massive

6. The Way Home

7. Whiplash

8. Hawkdance

9. Cutting Loose

10. Sea Of Tranquility 

Line-up:

Reb Beach – guitars, bass on 4, 9, keyboards on 4, 6, 11, strings on 10

David Throckmorton – drums (except on 6)

Robert Langley – drums on 6

Michele Luppi – piano on 3, 10

Phillip Bynoe – bass on 1, 2, 3, 8, 10, 11

John Hall – bass on 5, 6, 7

Paul Brown – keyboards on 1, 2, 5, 7

JINJER Announces Alive In Melbourne Live Album

Pre-Orders Available Now Order HERE

Ukrainian modern metal leaders JINJER have announced the official release of the audio recordings from one of the last metal shows played on the planet before the global Covid-19 lockdown: their ferocious sold out Melbourne, Australia performance on March 5, 2020.

Their newly announced upcoming live album, Alive In Melbourne features stunning artwork by gifted JINJER fan Gabriel Nicoletti, includes 17 tracks in total (see tracklist below) and will be released on November 20, 2020 via Napalm Records.

Commented the band: “Some shows just deserve to be carved in stone and memorialized forever. This was the case regarding our first ever Australian tour in March 2020, where we hit a few milestones all at once: we finally played on every continent there is to play on, our first time in down under was a complete sellout and more importantly we experienced the love, passion and craziness we’ve always heard so much about the Australian crowd. Hell, there were even fans from New Zealand that showed up to the party. Now, after nearly half year of lockdown I can barely watch this footage without shedding a few tears. If any of you knew how much time, patience, nerves and effort we put into making this live album possible- you would probably be surprised we managed to pull it off at all. Adversity kept coming and coming, and coming at us again and again but here we are : Alive in Melbourne 2020 is real and it’s coming out in all it’s visual and sonic glory! Let’s watch it, listen to it and let’s remember how a real metal gig should look and sound: the sweat, the volume, the performance and the crowd … we need this feeling back! I am proud that we managed to capture this place in time and share it with you as our first official live album!”

Coinciding with the announcement, the band has also released a live video for their pummeling tech groove track “Teacher, Teacher!”, the opening song of the afore-mentioned show.

Watch “Teacher, Teacher!” HERE

Alive In Melbourne is now available for pre-order and will be released in various lavish editions, listed below.

Alive In Melbourne Tracklist

01. Intro

02. Teacher, Teacher!

03. Sit Stay Roll Over

04. Ape

05. Judgement & Punishment

06. I Speak Astronomy

07. Who Is Gonna Be The One

08. Noah

09. Retrospection

10. Perennial

11. On The Top

12. Pit Of Consciousness

13. Home Back

14. Words Of Wisdom

15. Pisces

16. Captain Clock

17. Outro

Deluxe Edition Napalm Mailorder Only

Jewel Case + T-Shirt Napalm Mailorder Only

Pink/Black Marbled Vinyl Napalm Mailorder Only

Jewel Case Worldwide

Digital Album Worldwide

DJO RELEASES “KEEP YOUR HEAD UP” SINGLE FOLLOWS UP 2019 ALBUM “TWENTY TWENTY”

Late in 2019, musician Joe Keery quietly unveiled his solo project Djo and his full-length psych odyssey, Twenty TwentyToday, he returns with the single “Keep Your Head Up,” featuring the spaced out psych rock influences that Keery has employed in most of his music projects, but also mixing in elements of funk reminiscent of Prince and George Clinton. The song is a much needed shot of positivity in an otherwise dark time. 

Later today, Joe Keery will join The Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne in conversation with The Talkhouse. Tune inHERE at 3 PM PT / 6 PM ET. Additionally, Djo (both Keery and co-producer and co-writer Adam Thein) will participate in a Reddit AMA on r/indieheads tomorrow at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET. More info HERE.

Keery began playing music in his teens after co-opting his sister’s guitar, but it was during his college years at DePaul University in Chicago that he formed his first band and began to seriously pursue music. That band was Post Animal, the heavy psych rock outfit that went on to release a self-titled EP and two subsequent albums via Polyvinyl. They also toured with artists like Twin Peaks, Wavves and Cage The Elephant and played numerous festivals including Bonnaroo and Shaky Knees.

In 2019, with no announcement or fanfare, Keery’s solo-project Djo was unveiled not with a single, but a lush, self-reflective, layered 12 track full-length album titled Twenty TwentyJoe Keery built a carnival. The resonance of each riff or beat is not new, but redesigned and reshaped into the beauty it is today. The face of psych or alternative mirrored through his own design, and it reveals a person who shouldn’t be underestimated,” said Rodeo Mag. Despite the album being released under the radar and without a label, fans found their way to it, and Twenty Twenty has had more than 40 million streams to date. 

Major touring and festival dates were plotted for Djo throughout 2020, but with the global pandemic putting plans on hold, Keery returned to the studio to make something new. “Keep Your Head Up” is the first of much more new music to come. 

SEVENDUST RELEASE LYRIC VIDEO FOR “BLOOD FROM A STONE” – THE FIRST ORGINAL TRACK FROM UPCOMING ALBUM

BLOOD & STONEhttps://youtu.be/7f-ljyfb4yg
Band’s 13thStudio Album Scheduled for Release on October 23rd

Now Available for Pre-Order at https://RiseRecords.lnk.to/BloodAndStone
On the heels of the current single “The Day I Tried To Live” moving up the radio charts (currently #16 on Mediabase Active Rock chart), heavy metal legends Sevendust are releasing the first original song from their upcoming album Blood & Stone.

“Blood From A Stone” is quintessential Sevendust filled with driving riffs from guitarists Clint Lowery and John Connolly, pulsating rhythms from bassist Vince Hornsby and drummer Morgan Rose, and captivating vocals delivered as only Lajon Witherspoon can.  

A lyric video for the song was created by Wayne Joyner (known for his work with Dream Theater) who also did the video for “The Day I Tried To Live.” The lyric video for “Blood From A Stone” can be seen here: https://youtu.be/7f-ljyfb4yg

“Blood From A Stone was inspired by the endurance and threshold of our band, the wins and the losses, the good and bad years. That we have more to give, more to say and we pull that out of each other,” explains Clint Lowery.

Blood & Stone, the band’s 13th studio album, is scheduled for release on October 23rd via Rise Records (the second for the band on the label). The latest release also marks a return for the band with producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette, known for his work with Alter Bridge; Tremonti; Slash; and others. Blood & Stone is available for pre-order in various configurations at https://RiseRecords.lnk.to/BloodAndStone
The track listing for Blood & Stone is:
1)     Dying To Live
2)     Love
3)     Blood From A Stone
4)     Feel Like Going On
5)     What You’ve Become
6)     Kill Me
7)     Nothing Left To See Here Anymore
8)     Desperation
9)      Criminal
10)     Against The World
11)     Alone
12)     Wish You Well
13)     The Day I Tried To Live

In 1994, Sevendust first forged a familial tie amongst each other that translated into one of the most diehard audiences in the game. To this day, the connection between fans and the GRAMMY® Award-nominated gold-certified hard rock outfit only grows stronger. A trifecta of now-classic gold albums—Sevendust [1997], Home [1999], and Animosity [2001]— ignited their journey. Known as an equally intense and unforgettable live force, they’ve consistently packed houses around the world and decimated stages everywhere from Rock on the Range and Woodstock to OZZfest and Shiprocked! 2015’s Kill The Flaw represented a high watermark. Bowing at #13 on the Billboard Top 200, it scored their highest debut on the respective chart since 2010 and marked their fifth consecutive Top 10 on the Top Rock Albums Chart and third straight Top 3 on the Hard Rock Albums Chart. Most impressively, the lead single “Thank You” garnered a nomination in the category of “Best Metal Performance” at the 2016 GRAMMY® Awards, a career first. All I See Is War continued the band’s success debuting at #28 on the Billboard 200 and has become a favorite among critics and fans alike thanks to singles like “Dirty,” “Medicated” and “Risen.” 

Website: www.sevendust.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sevendustofficial

Twitter: @Sevendust 

THE DISTILLERS ANNOUNCE 20th ANNIVERSARY REISSUE OF THEIR SELF-TITLED ALBUM OUT OCTOBER 30

Punk legends, The Distillers are thrilled to announce the 20th anniversary reissue of their self-titled debut album. The newly remastered record will be released October 30 digitally and on vinyl. The exclusive vinyl will be limited to 2000 pieces in opaque sunburst, 1,550 pieces in clear with green/purple/black smoke, and 500 pieces exclusive to Zia in summer sky wave. All variations are available for pre-order now, here.

“This record is kind of the equivalent of someone reading my teenage diary, except worse,” explains vocalist and guitarist Brody Dalle. “Figuring out who I was as a songwriter, but with everyone watching and listening! All of my contemporary (at the time) influences for everyone to hear. The write up in the ‘Village Voice’ changed my life and I am forever grateful for it. If I hadn’t read such a scathing, hilarious and on point review (even though it stung really bad) I wouldn’t be the lyric writer I am today. Kim’s BADASS bass playing is still a highlight for me, and thanks to Matt Young as well for his enthusiasm and cool fast AF skin beats. The feedback at the end of blackest years I did by total accident…. I love this record so much, warts and all.”

PRE-ORDER THE DISTILLERS 20TH ANNIVERSARY VINYL

The Distillers Track listing
1.     Oh Serena
2.     Idoless
3.     The World Comes Tumblin’
4.     L.A. Girl
5.     Distilla Truant
6.     Ask The Angels
7.     Oldscratch
8.     Girlfixer
9.     Open Sky
10.  Red Carpet And Rebellion
11.  Colossus U.S.A.
12.  Blackheart
13.  Gypsy Rose Lee
14.  The Blackest Years

ABOUT THE DISTILLERS
To call The Distillers simply a punk band doesn’t do justice to either the band or the word “punk”. Guitarist, lyricist, and vocalist Brody Dalle uses her medium as a platform for a higher plane of visceral lyricism and independence. Few modern day punk icons have not only embodied the genre so truthfully but also transformed the depth of what it can mean so thoroughly. Originally formed in 1998 in Los Angeles, the energetic band, with Dalle at the helm, released a string of damaged and powerful albums, EPs and singles with California punk labels Epitaph and Hellcat, then released their third masterpiece of an album, Coral Fang, on Sire before going on an untimely hiatus and ultimately splitting in 2006. After breaking a 12-year silence on social media late last year, The Distillers returned, and In September 2018, the punk gods released their first singles in 15 years, “Man vs. Magnet” and “Blood in Gutters.” The band are currently in the studio working on the follow up to Coral Fang with more to come throughout 2020.

Musician J.D. King Discusses His New Album “Moon Gardens”

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