Metal News

[Ravenpride]

VIO-LENCE Parts Ways With Guitarist BOBBY GUSTAFSON

Vio-Lence have parted ways with guitarist Bobby Gustafson (ex-Overkill), who joined the group in early 2020.



The band shared the news via social media, stating: "Vio-Lence and Bobby Gustafson have agreed to part ways effective immediately. The band cites 'logistical difficulties that weigh too heavy to function in a productive manner'. Remaining members all 'thank Bobby for his time in the band and all his VIO efforts. We wish him the very best."

[Ravenpride]

SACRED STEEL haben zwei Mitglieder weniger: Gitarrist Jens Sonnenberg sowie Bassist Kai Schindelar haben die Band verlassen. Sänger Gerrit Mutz, Gitarrist Jonas Khalil und Schlagezuger Matze Straub arbeiten zur Zeit zu dritt am neuen Album, das im kommenden Jahr veröffentlicht werden soll.

Es geht in der bisherigen Besetzung leider nicht mehr für uns weiter.

Wenn man über so viele Jahre zusammen spielt, ändern sich Dinge im privaten Umfeld und damit zwangsläufig auch die jeweiligen Prioritäten. SACRED STEEL ist kein Unternehmen, sondern eine Herzenssache. Deshalb ist es wichtig, dass eine gemeinsame Basis aller Bandmitglieder dafür besteht, wieviel Zeit und Energie in die Band fließen kann. Zuletzt wurde aber klar, dass Jens und Kai ihre Zeit der Band aus nachvollziehbaren, privaten Gründen nicht mehr im bisherigen Umfang zur Verfügung stellen können. Aus diesem Grund haben wir uns entschlossen, getrennte Wege zu gehen.
SACRED STEEL wird somit von Gerrit, Jonas und Matze weitergeführt. Wir bedanken uns bei Jens und Kai für viele, viele großartige Jahre und Erlebnisse und hoffen, von den beiden in anderer musikalischer Konstellation bald wieder etwas zu hören.
Diese Entscheidung ist keinem von uns leicht gefallen, eben weil SACRED STEEL kein zusammengewürfeltes Musikprojekt ist, sondern eine echte Band, die aus Freundschaft entstanden ist. Aber wir denken, dass diese Entscheidung richtig und notwendig war, um SACRED STEEL eine Zukunft zu ermöglichen.

Gerrit, Jonas und Matze werfen jetzt jedenfalls alle Energie in das neue Sacred Steel Album, das 2023 erscheinen wird.

Cheers, und bis demnächst!

[Ravenpride]

Dear friends,
we want to inform you, that our beloved band Mayfair has come to an end .
12 years ago we started the reunion and we had an absolutely incredible time. All the countless memories and friends we´ve made along the way will never been forgotten and will always have a place in our hearts (Schlage).
René is going to record some new stuff with "The mugshots".
Jolly and Mario will continue to release new stuff with their new band HØME
(www.hoeme-band.com or www.facebook.com/homemusicband/).

With respect and love,
Rene, Jolly and Mario

Schade!

[Ravenpride]

It’s with great sadness that we have to announce our good buddy Chad Vallier has departed the drum stool, after smashing it every night on tour, recording an absolute killer record and being there for us every step of the way he will be stepping down due to other commitments.
But we have managed to secure another incredible drummer in the form of Jake Gracie who has smashed it Manacle, Villian, and more! So please welcome him onboard this heavy metal machine!
Let’s ROCK!

[Ravenpride]

Schade!

SKOL RECORDS 2009-2022
Dear Friends,
In the February of 2023 I’m gonna release the final, basically post-mortem Skol Records title - ORPHAN ALLIES "Running From The Law". I wanted to use this opportunity and thank all of you for your support, and for giving me strength to continue through the years, through ups and downs. Skol Records released 70 CD albums and 28 CD singles - not bad. You can only imagine, how incredibly honored and happy I was to deal with, and then announce releases of such an outstanding bands as S.A. SLAYER, TYGERS OF PAN TANG, SATAN’S HOST, MEDIEVAL STEEL, MILITIA, BLOODLUST, MALTEZE, SABBAT, SOLAR EAGLE or TITAN FORCE... To work on reissues and new albums of NWOBHM cult acts such as DESOLATION ANGELS, MYTHRA, QUARTZ, AFTER DARK, CHASER or ROBESPIERRE… To do the official tribute albums, dedicated to legendary acts such as EXCITER, DIAMOND HEAD, RIOT or ANVIL… Except that, Skol Records gave kickstart to some amazing new bands, such as SAVAGE MASTER or SABIRE. So yes, I like to believe this legacy will live on.
I’m writing in first person, as while there were some amazing people around me helping with graphic designs or distribution, it was all my decisions (obviously not always right ones), my vision, and my blood and sweat. And believe it or not, the real driving force behind of all this was the passion, the desire to share great music with the people, and to immortalize some great recordings. It’s not an easy decision, but due to several reasons, it is time to take a bow.
Skol Records Bandcamp page will be kept alive so you can still stream and download some of our releases, but there will be no more new releases. So thank you all once again: bands, artists, distributors, friends and supporters, it was a great adventure, for which I am grateful. Whenever you can, please support other great labels that specialize in reissues, like No Remorse Records, Lost Realm Records, or Cult Metal Classics, and make sure that HEAVY METAL WILL NEVER DIE.
Bart Gabriel, December 2022

[Ravenpride]

Ausverkauftes Konzert
Theaterdach eingestürzt: Ein Toter in den USA

In der Kleinstadt Belvidere ist infolge eines schweren Unwetters das Dach eines Theaters eingebrochen. Zum Zeitpunkt des Einsturzes herrschte ein Sturm mit Geschwindigkeiten von rund 145 km/h.
(Bild: AP)
Die USA haben derzeit mit extremen Wetterphänomenen zu kämpfen: In der Kleinstadt Belvidere im US-Bundesstaat Illinois ist am Freitagabend infolge eines schweren Unwetters das Dach eines voll besetzten Theaters eingebrochen. Mindestens ein Mensch kam dabei ums Leben.
Nach Angaben des Feuerwehrchefs von Belvidere wurden fünf Personen mit schweren, 18 mit mittelschweren und fünf mit leichten Verletzungen ins Spital gebracht.
Zum Zeitpunkt des Einsturzes herrschte ein Sturm mit Geschwindigkeiten von rund 145 Stundenkilometern. Nach Angaben der Behörden befanden sich 260 Personen im Theater, als das Dach einstürzte. Dutzende Krankenwagen waren im Einsatz.
Das Konzert sei ausverkauft gewesen. Auf dem Programm im Apollo-Theater standen die Death-Metal-Bands Morbid Angel, Revocation und Skeletal Remains. Morbid Angel teilte auf Facebook mit, das Konzert sei „aufgrund eines Tornados, der den Veranstaltungsort getroffen hat“, abgesagt worden.

*ATTENTION*
Tonights show is Canceled due to a Tornado that hit the Venue, and caused the roof, over the area in-front of the stage , and marquee to collapse.

We ask anyone who is still traveling to the venue to please seek shelter and stay safe. We are currently sheltering in place, and want to extend our support and hope that everyone at the show tonight is safe.
Right now our focus is on making sure everyone in the venue tonight is ok and gets home.

- MA

Revocation Skeletal Remains CRYPTA
#morbidangel #40yearsofacid #revocationband #skeletalremains #CRYPTA

[Ravenpride]

[Ravenpride]

- end of the band / last album & last show on April 28th

It is with a heavy heart that we have to announce that MAJESTY has decided to cease all band activities. Thus, the upcoming album "Back to Attack" will be the last & final MAJESTY album - the release show on April 28th, 2023 in Würzburg will be the last concert of the band.
The band states:
"Hello all you metalheads out there,
these words are very hard for us but at the same time we thought about them for quite some time now. “Back To Attack” which is kind of our comeback album after more than 3 years will also be our last album and the show we will play on the 28thof April will be the last Majesty show. We think that we managed to put everything the band stands for into one last mighty album and at the same time we kind of realized that from now on everything we could do would be just copy ourselves.
Over all these 10 official Majesty albums the story seems to be completely told now and we don ́t just want to repeat it again with slightly different versions which could never be as unique as the original songs.One thing is also crystal clear for us. We don ́t want to just fade out with some more “business as usual” albums and shows with no surprises anymore. We know that there are lots of bands out there who are doing that and completely feel fine with it. But for us we just don ́t want to do that. With “Back To Attack” the magic of this band was still there and even more powerful than in many years before so we believe that this album will be the perfect one to end the chapter in complete happiness and the feeling of freedom.Instead of a club tour on small stages we now want to make the “Back To Attack” Release show on the 28thof April even bigger than planned and play new songs and all our greatest hits on a big stage with all the energy we all together as a band and you in front of the stage can give.
We really hope that you all can at least partlyunderstand our decision which was so hard to make for us but it just feels right to end it this way with a mighty album and a kick ass show. And even if some people might think this is kind of a promotional thing, it is definitely not. We always believedthat we should do what we feel and this means to follow our heart. You never know what the future brings but for now the book of MAJESTY ends on April the 28th
Tarek, Emanuel, Robin and Jan"
You can pre-order the new & final album here: www.reapermusic.de
Tickets for the last MAJESTY show can be ordered here: https://bit.ly/3m9pFKI
You can order the album & the ticket in a bundle here: www.reapermusic.de/product/55273/majesty-back-to-attack

[Ravenpride]

SAXON ANNOUNCE NEW TOURING GUITARIST

Following the official announcement on March 10th 2023 that founding SAXON guitarist PAUL QUINN will step down from touring duties, the band are very pleased to announce that BRIAN TATLER from DIAMOND HEAD will be appearing with Saxon for shows starting July 2023.
Biff Byford “We welcome our good friend Brian Tatler aboard the Saxon battleship on our live journey across the World … Bring It On!!”
Brian joins fellow Guitarist Doug Scarratt, Bassist Nibs Carter, Drummer Nigel Glockler and Vocalist Biff Byford for shows starting 7th July in Athens Greece but will continue to be a member of Diamond Head.

Saxon’s Summer European Tour Schedule is as follows:
Friday July 7th – GREECE, Athens – Rockwave Festival
Monday July 10th – SWEDEN, Knislinge – Time To Rock Festival
Thursday July 13th – GERMANY, Balingen – Bang Your Head Festival
Saturday July 22nd – ITALY, Cremona – Luppolo In Rock Festival
Saturday July 29th – GERMANY, Pyras – Classic Rock Night Festival
Saturday August 5th – SWEDEN, Rejmyre – Skogsrojet Festival
Saturday August 12th – DENMARK, Horsens – Jailbreak Festival

[Ravenpride]

Warlord line-up announced for 2024 touring; Guest guitarists yet to be announced.
Warlord, the legendary cult U.S. metal band formed in 1980, announce today that they will undertake a limited number of special shows in 2024 to celebrate both the legacy of the band, as well as the music and memory of founding guitarist William J Tsamis who sadly passed away in May 2021.
40 years after the release of both the seminal "Deliver Us" MLP and the classic "And The Cannons Of Destruction Have Begun" full-length album, Warlord will perform a set with a focus on the earlier material that shaped and influenced what we know now as Epic Heavy Metal, becoming one of the subgenre's most important pioneers. The limited number of those special shows celebrating Warlord's and William J Tsamis' legacy, will be extremely emotional for both the performers and the fans, who will once again experience the music that marked part of their lives and their emotions. Those special 2024 shows will be built around that feeling and bringing it back, and not as a "reunion act".
The special touring line-up will be:
Mark Zonder - Drums
Giles Lavery - Vocals
Philip Bynoe - Bass
Jimmy Waldo - Keys
The guitarist position will be revealed at a later date. Says Mark, "We will be using guest players whom we will reveal later. Bill is irreplaceable"
The band offered the following comments:
Mark Zonder:
"Rising out of the ashes once again"
Giles Lavery:
"It has been 10 years since I performed with Warlord in Germany and for the amazing fans in Greece, I am excited to have the opportunity to sing these great songs again... in memory of our friend Bill and together with all Warlord fans, in celebration of the band's everlasting legacy"
Philip Bynoe:
It will be great to pay tribute to Bill
And to play the old songs with the band,
The fans will enjoy seeing and hearing us perform on the big stage.
Jimmy Waldo:
"In between touring and recording with Alcatrazz I am very excited to be part of these special shows. I will be staying true to the original Warlord tradition in every way"
Further announcements will be made, as well as other exciting news in the coming months.
Interested promoters should contact:
mark@markzonder.com
contact@glm-artists.com

[Ravenpride]

It really wasn‘t easy to hold back these killer news… Welcome to the band Peter
After standing in as live musician for about 3 months last autumn, the band are pleased to announce that Peter Baltes has now joined their ranks as new band member on bass (also for DIRKSCHNEIDER) with his live premiere taking place in Australia and Japan during the last few days. Baltes, who played with singer Udo Dirkschneider for many years in his former band ACCEPT, which the bassist left in 2018, had already collaborated with Udo again as part of DIRKSCHNEIDER & THE OLD GANG and other projects in recent years.
Read the full news: https://label.atomicfire-records.com/u- ... neider.../


L-R: Sven Dirkschneider (drums), Fabian Dee Dammers (guitars), Peter Baltes (bass), Udo Dirkschneider (vocals), Andrey Smirnov (guitars)
Photo Credit: @martinhauslerphotographer
Don't miss U.D.O. / DIRKSCHNEIDER on tour: https://udo-online.de/tourdates.html
_________________________________________________________
#udodirkschneider #peterbaltes #heavymetal #ontheroad #welcome

[Ravenpride]

STRATOVARIUS's 'Dreamspace' Lineup Reunites As TIMO TOLKKI'S STRATO

The "Dreamspace" lineup of STRATOVARIUS has reformed, returning under the moniker TIMO TOLKKI'S STRATO. Featuring Timo Tolkki (vocals and guitar),Tuomo Lassila (drums) and Antti Ikonen (keyboards),these members recorded the classic "Fright Night", "Twilight Time", "Dreamspace" and "Fourth Dimension" albums. Released in 1994, "Dreamspace" was the last STRATOVARIUS album to have Tolkki on lead vocals and includes such fan favorites as "Chasing Shadows", "Hold On To Your Dream", "We Are The Future" and "Wings Of Tomorrow". Tolkki recorded his vocals for the "Fourth Dimension" album demos before deciding to focus on guitar only and recruited Timo Kotipelto as vocalist. "Fourth Dimension" featured a number of standout tracks, including "Against The Wind", "Distant Skies", "Galaxies" and "Twilight Symphony".


In the summer 2022, Tolkki, Lassila and Ikonen met to discuss ideas to reform the original lineup, deciding to call themselves TIMO TOLKKI'S STRATO. In secrecy, they have been rehearsing in Tuomo's garage (real back to the roots!) since January 2023.This reconstituted lineup has signed a deal with Warner Music Japan and is currently recording its debut album, titled "Return To Dreamspace", to be released on October 27, preceded by the single "(Is This The) Brave New World?" A Japanese tour is planned for spring 2024, and Tolkki will visit Japan in November 2023 to promote the album — his first time there since 2007. Tours of Latin America and Europe are also in the works. In concert the band will be performing songs from "Return To Dreamspace" as well as from the STRATOVARIUS albums "Fright Night", "Twilight Time" and "Dreamspace".

Eric Cerda, the manager of Timo Tolkki, describes the music as "sounding like the classic 'Dreamspace' era but updated for the 2020s. Fans of melodic power metal — a genre that these guys pretty much defined — will love the new songs of TIMO TOLKKI'S STRATO, with fans of early STRATOVARIUS being especially pleased."

Lassila formed STRATOVARIUS in Helsinki 1984 and is responsible together with the original guitar player Staffan Stråhlman for the band's name STRATOVARIUS. One year later, Tolkki joined the band. STRATOVARIUS released its debut album, "Fright Night" (1989),through CBS Finland. From that started one of the biggest success stories in the history of melodic metal. They defined what is currently known as "power metal" with albums like "Fright Night", "Twilight Time" (1993),"Dreamspace" (1994) and "Fourth Dimension" (1995).

Tolkki wrote more than 100 songs for the band before leaving the group to embark on a successful solo career back in 2008, and is responsible for writing such power metal anthems like "Black Diamond", "Hunting High And Low", "Speed Of Light", "Paradise", "Forever" and "Destiny". More than four million copies of Tolkki-era STRATOVARIUS albums have been sold.

[Ravenpride]

Instead of writing a long and drawn out explanation I will just announce that Ondskapt is over. I want to thank all of our fans for this incredible journey and all the support thought the years.
/ Acerbus

Schade!

[Ravenpride]

We wish to extend our belated thanks to all of the many people who reached out with their words of sympathy and comfort following Tim Aymar's unexpected -- though natural -- passing on February 13th. Your kind and heartfelt expressions helped carry us through the difficult days and weeks that followed. We were always humbled and nourished by your support during the best of times, and the same was true during the worst.
Tim is very much in our thoughts today, on what should have been his 60th birthday. He was as complex and multi-faceted of a human being as ever lived: bandmate, friend, father, son, brother, singer, songwriter, teacher, student, believer, skeptic, biker, baker, dreamer, leader, comrade, storyteller, prankster, protector, and perfectionist. He could be generous, demanding, stubborn, gracious, hilarious, and defiant. To know and love Tim was to accept his complexity and his unpredictable ways, and to realize that he is uniquely impossible to describe, no matter how long a strand of adjectives we may weave.
Now that some time has passed since our initial shock and mourning, our sadness comes in waves. Some waves only touch our toes but others can crash onto our entire beings and suddenly the tears flow again. But what remains constant is our own immense gratitude for having made the music we made, and for the experience of taking that entire journey together. We can reflect on the many "ups and downs" along the way, but looking back now, the "downs" seem insignificant or even comical, and the "ups" still shine with that glow of creative exhilaration, the joyful satisfaction that bonded us so many times.
When the tragic news hit us in February, we sensed that Pharaoh was finished. We didn't really need to discuss it with each other, and nor do we feel the need to explain it now. We are proud of our music and also of that journey it represents: our dedication to each other over 20+ years. Nothing has changed in that regard, and we feel that it would be too much of a compromise to continue.
To everyone reading this, thank you for your dedication to us as well, and please know that Tim loved you very much. His ashes are now joined with the winds and soils of his Pennsylvania homeland, but his memory and his music will be with you everywhere and with us endlessly. So, Pharaoh says farewell for now, invoking Tim's usual email sign-off as the final word. A blessing, a wish, a reward:
Peace.

[Ravenpride]

Founding SAXON Guitarist GRAHAM OLIVER Diagnosed With Parkinson's Disease

September 7, 2023

During an appearance on "The Classic Rock Podcast" with host Tim Caple, founding SAXON guitarist Graham Oliver revealed that he has just been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. "I was shocked at first," he stated about his diagnosis. "I mean, in '76 I cut my finger off and [thought] I'd never play guitar again. When I was 59, I had a mini stroke and that paralyzed my left side and I thought I'd never play again. So I've overcome them, so I've got another battle on my hands. So I've done it three times. So it'll be the third time lucky. It's not gonna beat me as yet, so I'm just going to keep going till I can't."

Regarding how his condition has affected his playing so far, the 71-year-old Graham said: "Well, I'm on medication. I went to 'jam night' last week. I did a gig in Lancaster with OLIVER'S ARMY, which is the band that we're using now. And I did really well, 'cause before I had to concentrate on my left hand to make it work properly whereas it was a lot like I was playing things that I hadn't played for a couple of years. 'Cause I've had these complaints since lockdown and thought it was a trapped nerve. I didn't know what to put it down to. I just put it down to inactivity, bitter old age and arthritis or a trapped nerve. So it's been slow. Hopefully medication is gonna keep it under control."

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system.

There is no cure for Parkinson's disease, but medications, surgery and multidisciplinary management can provide relief from the symptoms.

Oliver is not the only heavy metal musician battling Parkinson's disease. JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Glenn Tipton was diagnosed with Parkinson's nine years ago after being stricken by the condition at least half a decade earlier.

Pat Torpey, the longtime drummer for rock group MR. BIG, died in February 2018 due to complications from Parkinson's disease.

Ozzy Osbourne announced in 2020 that he had been diagnosed with a form of Parkinson's disease, Parkin 2, which affects the nerves in the body.

Graham, whose guitar work featured on every SAXON record up to 1994's "Dogs Of War", recently launched a new GRAHAM OLIVER'S ARMY lineup which includes lead vocalist Brian Shaughnessy (SEVENTH SON) and guitarist Gav Coulson (JOHN VERITY, THOMAS BLUG),and introduces new members Jamie Mallender (TONY MARTIN, JOHN VERITY) on bass and Rod Fearnley (FACTORY, UNDER LOCK AND KEY) on drums.