Testament will remain with Nuclear Blast Records for the foreseeable future.
The band announced Wednesday, it has signed a new extension with the label that will see the group release its next three albums through Nuclear Blast Records. Testament has been signed with Nuclear Blast Records since 2008 and has released four albums in that time.
Along with announcing the new extension, the band also announced that it and Nuclear Blast have acquired the rights to all six of its albums released through Atlantic Records/Megaforce, from its 1987 debut, The Legacy, to its 1994 album, Low. Front man Chuck Billy said the band will likely re-issue those albums through Nuclear Blast now that the band and label have control of the albums.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit America over the past couple of years or so, everyone knows what the impact was on the live music business. Even as recent as last year, it caused so much live music to be paused and even cancelled. Thankfully, many acts out there found a workaround in the form of livestream concerts, including Anthrax, which recorded a livestream concert almost a year ago to the day on July 15 and 16, 2021. The concert was held as part of the band’s 40th Anniversary tour, which was sidelined as a result of the pandemic. Now on Friday, that livestream concert will be available on Blu-ray in the form of Anthrax XL through Megaforce Records, which ironically was the very first label to sign the band four decades ago. It is only fitting that the new recording will come through that label as part of the celebration of the band’s 40th anniversary. Part of what audiences will appreciate about the semi-live show is its set list, which will be discussed shortly. The band’s performance of that set list adds its own level of enjoyment to the recording and will be examined a little later. The bonus content that accompanies the recording’s main feature puts the finishing touch to the whole, completing the presentation. It will also be examined later. Each item noted is key in its own way to the whole of Anthrax XL. All things considered they make the recording one more of the year’s top new live Blu-rays and DVDs.
Anthrax XL, the new live recording from veteran hard rock band Anthrax, is a strong new offering from the band. It is a presentation that will find wipe appeal among the band’s fans. That is due in part to its featured set list. The 22-song set (though the track listing lists 21 tracks, the opening number is a medley of two songs, so the total is in fact 22) pulls from half of the band’s 12 albums, and even reaches into the band’s 1991 compilation record, Attack of the Killer Bs. It reaches all the way back to the band’s sophomore album, Spreading The Disease (1985) and all the way up to its most recent album, 2016’s For All Kings. Given, the set list completely omits any songs from The Sound of White Noise (1993) all the way up to We’ve Come For You All (2013), which makes for quite a bit of interest and certainly discussion. That’s because all of those albums were released, one after the other, so why would the band ignore those albums in its concert? Only the band knows. That aside, the set list pulls from a relatively healthy section of the band’s catalog, which is certain to appeal to plenty of audiences.
The band’s performance of the set list is just as notable as the set list itself. From beginning to end, the band keeps the energy flowing in every song. Front man Joey Belladonna presents so much energy as guitarist and founding member Scott Ian works through each driving riff. Drummer Charlie Benante and bassist Frank Bello add their own energy to the concert. Even being a livestream concert with no audience in front of the band, the group in whole still gives its all from one song to the next, knowing audiences were still watching albeit online. To that end, the band’s performance of each song is just as engaging and entertaining as if the band was performing in a full live setting. Keeping that in mind, the band’s performance of the set list makes for just as much for audiences to appreciate as the set list itself.
While the set list and the band’s performance thereof do plenty to keep audiences engaged and entertained, they are just a part of what makes the recording worth hearing. The bonus content that accompanies the recording adds another layer of enjoyment to the presentation. The first half of the bonus content comes in the form of a handful of extra performances, including that of ‘Aftershock,‘ yet another song featured in the band’s 1985 album, Spreading The Disease. In all, audiences get nearly 15 minutes of bonus performance from the band, making for so much more enjoyment in its own right. The second half of the bonus content features the band’s rehearsals for its livestream show as well as a tour of the places that have been key in Anthrax’s history, including Megaforce Records, Times Square, Electric Ladyland Studios, and even a pizzeria (of all places). The tour is guided by Ian and features him talking about the importance of each location to the band’s history. Audiences will be interested to learn from Ian at one point, about his love for the comic book, Judge Dredd. That is certain to connect even more audiences with the band. Between the extra live content, the tour and rehearsals, audiences get so much to appreciate in the bonus content, each part of the bonus content lives up to that title as it puts the finishing touch to the recording’s presentation. When it is collectively considered along with the rest of the recording’s content and the band’s performance thereof, the whole makes Anthrax XL a welcome presentation for any Anthrax fan.
Anthrax XL, the new live recording from Anthrax, is a welcome new offering from the veteran hard rock band. It is a fitting celebration of the band’s 40th anniversary, even being in a semi-live setting. The recording’s success comes in large part through its featured set list. The 22-song set list pulls from half of the band’s records. The band’s performance of said set list makes for its own enjoyment, as every band member brings his own energy to the whole. The bonus content that accompanies the main presentation adds even more performances to the set, making for yet more enjoyment. Guitarist Scott Ian’s tour of spots that have helped make Anthrax the band that it is today makes for its own unique addition to the bonus content that takes audiences even deeper into the band’s history. Each item examined is important in its own way to the whole of this recording. All things considered they make Anthrax XL another welcome addition to this year’s field of top new live recordings.
Anthrax XL is scheduled for release Friday through Megaforce Records. More information on the recording is available along with all of Anthrax’s latest news at:
In other news, Anthrax, Black Label Society and Hatebreed will hit the road together this summer.
The bands will launch a five-week tour July 26 in Phoenix, AZ. The tour is scheduled to run through Aug. 28 in Philadelphia, PA and will feature performances in cities nationwide, such as Charlotte, NC; Cincinnati, OH and Toronto, ON.
Anthrax’s upcoming tour is part of its ongoing 40th Anniversary celebration. For Hatebreed, the tour is a continued celebration of the 20th anniversary of the release of the band’s album, Perseverance. The band is in the midst of a tour with Parkway Drive, The Black Dahlia Murder, and Stick To Your Guns in support of the album’s release anniversary. The tour is scheduled to wrap June 5 in San Francisco, CA.
Black Label Society’s upcoming run with Anthrax and Hatebreed is in support of its latest album, Doom Crew, Inc., which was released last year through eOne. Front man Zakk Wylde spoke warmly of Anthrax and Hatebreed as he talked about the upcoming tour.
“ANTHRAX is one of The BESTEST LEGENDARY METAL/THRASH BANDS of ALL TIME – I have been buds with SCOTTY, CHARLIE, FRANKIE & JOEY for over 3O years & they are some of the BESTEST people you will meet,” he said. “JON is The BESTEST new addition ANTHRAX could ask for – HATEBREED are The BESTEST HARDCORE/EXTREME METAL band & BESTEST friends w/ANTHRAX & BLACK LABEL SOCIETY. The ANTHRAX + BLACK LABEL SOCIETY & HATEBREED TOUR is going to be one of the BESTEST TOURS EVER!!”
Hatebreed front man Jamey Jasta was also upbeat as he talked about the bands’ upcoming live run.
“Listen up! It’s gonna be a hot summer!” said Jasta. “Anthrax, BLS & Hatebreed will be on your case, in your face & ready to kick you and your father back in place! See you in the pit.”
Public ticket sale for the upcoming tour opens at 10 a.m. local time Friday. The tour’s schedule is noted below along with the full schedule for the various ticket sales open times.
Dates for the tour are as follows:
JULY
26 The Van Buren, Phoenix, AZ
28 Brooklyn Bowl, Las Vegas, NV
29 The Palladium, Los Angeles, CA
30 Heart Health Park, Sacramento, CA
AUGUST
1 Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, CO
2 Midland Theater, Kansas City, MO
4 Hard Rock Live Northern Indiana, Gary, IN
5 Oshkosh Arena, Oshkosh, WI
6 The Fillmore, Minneapolis, MN
8 Southside Ballroom, Dallas, TX**
9 Stubbs Waller Creek Amphitheater, Austin, TX
11 The Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA
12 House of Blues, Orlando, FL
13 The Fillmore, Charlotte, NC
15 The Andrew J Brady Music Center, Cincinnati, OH
16 Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN
18 The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD
19 Main Street Armory, Rochester, NY
20 The Fillmore, Detroit, MI**
22 StageAE Outside, Pittsburgh, PA
23 History, Toronto, ON CANADA
24 Amphitheatre Cogeco, Trois Riviere/Montreal, QC
26 Coney Island Amphitheater, Brooklyn, NY
28 The Fillmore, Philadelphia, PA**
** Hatebreed will not appear on these dates.
* TICKET PRESALE DETAILS:
Citi Presale: Monday, April 18, 2022, 12:00 PM Eastern Time
Live Nation Presale: Tuesday, April 19, 2022, 10:00 AM Local Time
Spotify Presale: Tuesday, April 19, 2022, 2:00 PM EST
Ticketmaster Presale: Wednesday, April 20, 10:00 AM Eastern Time
Blabbermouth Presale: Wednesday, April 20, 10:00 AM Eastern Time
Knotfest Presale: Wednesday, April 20, 10:00 AM Eastern Time
Nederlander Presale: Thursday, April 21, 2022, 10:00 AM Pacific Time
Venue Presales: Thursday, April 21, 2022, 10:00 AM Local Time
All Presale end: Thursday, April 21, 2022, 10:00 PM Local Time
More information on Black Label Society’s upcoming run with Anthrax and Hatebreed is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
As the release date for Anthrax’s new live recording, Anthrax XL, nears, the band is giving audiences another preview of the recording with a new live clip.
The band premiered the clip of its performance of ‘The Devil You Know‘ Friday. The recording is schedule for release July 15 through Megaforce Records. The video features the band performing the song on stage and adds in pictures of the band alongside some very well-known friends. Among the well-known friends featured in the pictures are the likes of Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, and Vinnie Paul. Also among those friends featured in the pictures are the likes of Peter Criss, Slash, and James Hetfield.
The audio in the clip is exceptionally clear. The video is just as impressive.
‘The Devil You Know’ is the second live clip that Anthrax has released ahead of Anthrax XL‘s release. The band premiered a live clip of ‘Aftershock‘ early this month.
The track listing for Anthrax’s Anthrax XL Blu-Ray / CD / Digital is as follows:
Time/Fight Em ’Til You Can’t
Madhouse
Caught In A Mosh
Metal Thrashing Mad
Got The Time
I Am The Law
Keep It In The Family
Lone Justice
The Devil You Know
Be All End All
Now It’s Dark
Antisocial
In The End
Medusa
Evil Twin
Indians
Skeletons In The Closet
Blood Eagle Wings
Bring The Noise
A.I.R.
Among The Living
In other news, Anthrax, Black Label Society and Hatebreed will hit the road together this summer.
The bands will launch a five-week tour July 26 in Phoenix, AZ. The tour is scheduled to run through Aug. 28 in Philadelphia, PA and will feature performances in cities nationwide, such as Charlotte, NC; Cincinnati, OH and Toronto, ON.
Anthrax’s upcoming tour is part of its ongoing 40th Anniversary celebration. For Hatebreed, the tour is a continued celebration of the 20th anniversary of the release of the band’s album, Perseverance. The band is in the midst of a tour with Parkway Drive, The Black Dahlia Murder, and Stick To Your Guns in support of the album’s release anniversary. The tour is scheduled to wrap June 5 in San Francisco, CA.
Black Label Society’s upcoming run with Anthrax and Hatebreed is in support of its latest album, Doom Crew, Inc., which was released last year through eOne. Front man Zakk Wylde spoke warmly of Anthrax and Hatebreed as he talked about the upcoming tour.
“ANTHRAX is one of The BESTEST LEGENDARY METAL/THRASH BANDS of ALL TIME – I have been buds with SCOTTY, CHARLIE, FRANKIE & JOEY for over 3O years & they are some of the BESTEST people you will meet,” he said. “JON is The BESTEST new addition ANTHRAX could ask for – HATEBREED are The BESTEST HARDCORE/EXTREME METAL band & BESTEST friends w/ANTHRAX & BLACK LABEL SOCIETY. The ANTHRAX + BLACK LABEL SOCIETY & HATEBREED TOUR is going to be one of the BESTEST TOURS EVER!!”
Hatebreed front man Jamey Jasta was also upbeat as he talked about the bands’ upcoming live run.
“Listen up! It’s gonna be a hot summer!” said Jasta. “Anthrax, BLS & Hatebreed will be on your case, in your face & ready to kick you and your father back in place! See you in the pit.”
Public ticket sale for the upcoming tour opens at 10 a.m. local time Friday. The tour’s schedule is noted below along with the full schedule for the various ticket sales open times.
Dates for the tour are as follows:
JULY
26 The Van Buren, Phoenix, AZ
28 Brooklyn Bowl, Las Vegas, NV
29 The Palladium, Los Angeles, CA
30 Heart Health Park, Sacramento, CA
AUGUST
1 Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, CO
2 Midland Theater, Kansas City, MO
4 Hard Rock Live Northern Indiana, Gary, IN
5 Oshkosh Arena, Oshkosh, WI
6 The Fillmore, Minneapolis, MN
8 Southside Ballroom, Dallas, TX**
9 Stubbs Waller Creek Amphitheater, Austin, TX
11 The Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA
12 House of Blues, Orlando, FL
13 The Fillmore, Charlotte, NC
15 The Andrew J Brady Music Center, Cincinnati, OH
16 Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN
18 The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD
19 Main Street Armory, Rochester, NY
20 The Fillmore, Detroit, MI**
22 StageAE Outside, Pittsburgh, PA
23 History, Toronto, ON CANADA
24 Amphitheatre Cogeco, Trois Riviere/Montreal, QC
26 Coney Island Amphitheater, Brooklyn, NY
28 The Fillmore, Philadelphia, PA**
** Hatebreed will not appear on these dates.
* TICKET PRESALE DETAILS:
Citi Presale: Monday, April 18, 2022, 12:00 PM Eastern Time
Live Nation Presale: Tuesday, April 19, 2022, 10:00 AM Local Time
Spotify Presale: Tuesday, April 19, 2022, 2:00 PM EST
Ticketmaster Presale: Wednesday, April 20, 10:00 AM Eastern Time
Blabbermouth Presale: Wednesday, April 20, 10:00 AM Eastern Time
Knotfest Presale: Wednesday, April 20, 10:00 AM Eastern Time
Nederlander Presale: Thursday, April 21, 2022, 10:00 AM Pacific Time
Venue Presales: Thursday, April 21, 2022, 10:00 AM Local Time
All Presale end: Thursday, April 21, 2022, 10:00 PM Local Time
More information on the upcoming tour is available along with all of Anthrax’s latest news at:
More than three months after it was initially scheduled for release, Overkill’s long-awaited box set, The Atlantic Years: 1986–1994, will apparently finally see the light of day this month, on Feb. 18. The six-disc collection was originally scheduled for release Oct. 29 through BMG, but was delayed from there. Officials at the label did not provide comment about what caused the delay. The collection is a welcome release for any Overkill fan. That is due in part to its general presentation, which will be discussed shortly. The set’s packaging at least in the way of its CD presentation is a positive, as the related pricing. The set’s vinyl set is another issue. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of this box set. All things considered, they make the collection a mostly positive presentation that any Overkill fan will appreciate.
BMG’s forthcoming Overkill box set, The Atlantic Years: 1986–1994, is a mostly successful presentation. It is an offering that most Overkill fans will appreciate. That is due in large part to its general presentation. As the set’s title indicates, it features all six of the albums that the band released during its time with Atlantic Records. Those albums are: Taking Over (1987), Under The Influence (1988), The Years of Decay (1989), Horrorscope (1991), I Hear Black (1993), and W.F.O. (1994). They are the band’s second through seventh albums. The band’s debut album, Feel The Fire was released in 1985 through Megaforce Records, which was started by the late, great John Zazula. The albums featured in this collection represent Overkill’s formative years in one setting. The Years of Decay is especially important because despite a les than stellar charting through Billboard, the fact of the matter is that it has since gone on to be known as a key record for the band because of its influence on the then burgeoning groove metal scene. It was and is considered a work that heavily influenced that sound. On a wider range, the albums also saw a numberof shakeups in the band’s lineup. Considering all the personnel changes that the band saw through the albums, one would have thought it would have had an impact, and not in a good way, on the product, but the albums each received mostly positive reviews from critics and fans alike. To that end, these albums are collectively, a representation of Overkill as a band finding its footing while also establishing itself (and successfully so) within the hard rock and metal communities. Keeping that in mind, having all six albums together in one place will help Overkill fans and more casual thrash fans fully understand and appreciate the importance of this period in Overkill’s life. This is just one of the ways in which this box set succeeds. Its packaging, at least in the form of its CD platform, is a positive to the presentation, too.
The packaging of the albums in their CD platform is important because of its ergonomic design. All six albums are housed inside their own “sleeves” within a larger box. The “sleeves” in question each present the front and rear artwork from the albums’ original releases. Yes, that is just an aesthetic item, but it still will appeal to audiences because it shows BMG’s attempt to really win over audiences. The box in which the records are placed is just large enough to house them, too. Its depth is roughly equal to that of an old school double-CD album case. In other words, the box containing the albums is not overly large, but not tiny, either. That means it will save space in any Overkill fan’s home, whether on a CD rack or elsewhere where they place box sets.
The set’s vinyl box set, by comparison is far larger. It has to be larger, too, in order to be able to house each large, vinyl disc. Those discs take up a lot more space than the CD collection, so again, this makes the CD platform’s packaging all the more appealing. Keeping that in mind along with the importance of the set’s general presentation, the set proves all the more positive a presentation. The set’s pricing, again at least in reference to its CD platform, rounds out its most important items.
The average price point for the set’s CD platform is $51.65. That price, which puts each album’s price at less than $10 (quite the deal in itself), is reached by averaging prices listed through Amazon, Target, and Barnes & Noble Booksellers. The CD platform was not listed through Books-A-Million, Walmart, and Best Buy. Rather, they list the set in its vinyl platform. The set’s average price point on vinyl is $165.36. This is a restrictive price point for any Overkill fan. The listing of $199.99 through Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Best Buy are even more restrictive. By comparison, the most expensive of the CD platform’s listings is $54.99 (through Barnes & Noble Booksellers). Meanwhile listings of $49.98 and $49.99 through Amazon and Target respectively are each below the CD platform’s average. They make the albums just under $10 per album, too. So again, in looking at all of these figures, it becomes even clearer why the collection’s CD platform pricing is a positive. The average and separate listings are far more affordable than those of its vinyl platform. When this is considered along with the collection’s general presentation and packaging, all three items make the set overall a success for Overkill and for BMG.
Overkill’s forthcoming box set, The Atlantic Years: 1986–1994, is a mostly positive new offering from the band and from BMG. It is a presentation that any Overkill fan will appreciate. That is proven in part through its general presentation, which features all six albums that the band released in its formative years through Atlantic Records. The packaging for the set’s CD platform is another positive. That is because of the amount of space that it saves on any audience’s CD rack and elsewhere. The set’s pricing rounds out its most important items. That is especially the case when comparing the set’s pricing to that of its vinyl counterpart. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of this collection. All things considered, they make The Atlantic Years: 1986–1994 a mostly successful new offering from Overkill and BMG that any Overkill fan will appreciate.
The Atlantic Years: 1986–1994 is scheduled for release Feb. 18 through BMG. More information on Overkill’s new box set is available online now along with all of the band’s latest tour updates, news and more at:
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Twenty years after Saliva made its major label debut (and second overall album) with Every Six Seconds, the band is revisiting that record with its new EP, Every Twenty Years. The six-song record features a handful of re-worked versions of songs from Every Six Seconds that make up the majority of the record. Those songs are certain to engage and entertain listeners in their own way. They will be discussed shortly. While the majority of the songs featured in Every Twenty Years are lifted from Every Six Seconds, there are two songs that were not featured in that album. Their inclusion in the record adds their own level of appeal to the EP. They will be discussed a little later. The performances of the updated songs put the finishing touch to the EP and will also be discussed later. When this aspect is considered along with the songs themselves and the two bonus tracks, the EP in whole proves itself a presentation that any Saliva fan will enjoy.
Saliva’s brand new EP, Every Twenty Years is a tribute to the band’s debut album, Every Six Seconds, that despite its brief nature, will appeal widely to the band’s established audience base. That is due in part to the EP’s featured songs. The majority of the record’s songs (four in all) are lifted from Every Six Seconds. They are ‘Your Disease,’ ‘Click, Click, Boom,’ ‘After Me,’ and ‘Greater Than/Less Than.’ ‘Your Disease’ and ‘Click, Click, Boom’ were both hit singles spawned from Every Six Seconds. “Greater Than/Less Than’ meanwhile was a carryover from the band’s self-titled 1997 debut album. ‘After Me’ garnered its own appeal among audiences following the release of Every Six Seconds, too. This collection of songs is a brief tribute to the legacy of Every Six Seconds, but considering the popularity of the songs’ source material, these re-worked renditions are certain to garner renewed interest in the band’s noted major label debut. That in turn makes these primary songs a good starting point in examining this EP’s appeal. The two bonus tracks that accompany the EP’s primary content build on the appeal of those works to make the EP increasingly engaging and entertaining.
The two bonus songs featured in Every Twenty Years are a re-worked take of the band’s 2001 cover of Henry Mancini’s ‘Theme From Peter Gunn’ and a cover of Soundgarden’s hit 1994 single, ‘Spoonman.’ Saliva’s take on ‘Spoonman’ largely stays true to its source material, which will appeal to fans of both bands. Front man Bobby Amaru’s vocal delivery holds its own here against that of the late great Chris Cornell while his band mates – Paul Crosby (drums), Brad Stewart (bass), and Wayne Swinny (guitar, vocals) — are just as applause worthy in their own performances here.
Saliva’s take on ‘Theme From Peter Gunn’ was not featured as part of Every Six Seconds despite also being released in 2001. It was re-named ‘Spyhunter’ as it was featured in the soundtrack to the 2001 reboot of the vintage video game “Spyhunter.” Both versions clock in at four minutes, 22 seconds in length, so needless to say not much has changed between the original and this song. The variations are in fact that subtle. Considering that the original rendition is likely difficult to find today other than through YouTube, having this version included in an official Saliva record makes for even more appeal here.
Speaking of variations, the variations between the original and updated takes of the songs from Every Six Seconds make for their own appeal, too. That speaks to the importance of the band’s performance of said songs. While there are many similarities between the original and updated version of ‘Click Click Boom’ for instance, there are also clear differences. The differences are most clear from the second verse on. They come in part through the vocal delivery of current front man Bobby Amaru and former front man Josey Scott. Amaru’s vocal delivery style is noticeably heavier heavier than that of Scott in the verses while the two have roughly similar styles in the more melodic choruses. In terms of the instrumentation here, there are clear moments throughout when Swinny’s guitar riffs are heavier than in the original. There are also certain effects used here that were not used in the original composition. All things considered, the band’s updated take of ‘Click, Click, Boom’ is actually an improvement over the original work and just part of the proof of the importance of the band’s performances here.
Just the two renditions of ‘Click, Click, Boom’ are relatively similar, save for some subtle variances, so are the two renditions of ‘Your Disease.’ The updated take featured in Every Twenty Years is different from its source material primarily in the fact that it is more amped up in the verses than the original take. The choruses meanwhile are just as controlled and melodic. There is a slight change in the guitar arrangement in the song’s chorus refrain that adds a nice touch, too. Other than that and the noted heavier approach to the song’s verses, the song’s update is largely the same as the original. That marriage of something old and something new (yes, that awful wedding pun was intended) make this presentation yet another example of what makes the band’s performances of the updated songs so important to the EP’s presentation. The band’s performance in the updated take of ‘Better Than/Less Than’ is yet another example of the importance of the band’s performances here.
Saliva’s updated take of ‘Better Than/Less Than’ is just as subtle in its performance as the band’s performance in the other examined updates. Swinney’s guitar line is once more amped up here in comparison to the band’s initial performance. The result is that the song’s distinctly Alice in Chains style sound and style is even more evident here than in the original. That is not to say that it was not evident in the original work. It is just so much more pronounced in this case. Taking this update into account along with the performances in the other examined updates and that in the band’s updated take of ‘After Me,’ the importance of the band’s performances here become that much clearer. When they are considered along with the EP’s main body and its bonus songs, the whole makes this EP a mostly enjoyable presentation that will tide audiences over until the band releases its next album.
Saliva’s brand new EP Every Twenty Years is a presentation that will appeal to the band’s established audience base. That is due in part to its featured songs. The songs are for the most part, lifted from the band’s 2001 album, Every Six Seconds. However, there are two “bonus” tracks added to the mix to enhance the EP’s presentation. One of the songs is an updated take of a cover that the band recorded for a game that was itself an update of a video game that was popular in the 1980s. How is that for a little six degrees of separation? The other song is a cover of a song made famous by a famed grunge act and is just as engaging and entertaining as that original. The band’s performances of the updates rounds out the EP’s most important elements. The performances are subtle yet still heavy updates of the band’s own original songs that will keep listeners engaged and entertained in their own right. Each item examined is important in its own way to the whole of the EP. All things considered, they make the EP a work that is certain to tide audiences over until the band releases its next album. Every Twenty Years is available now.
More information on Saliva’s new EP is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Saliva released another single from its forthcoming EP last week.
The band unveiled a re-worked take on its classic song, ‘Click Click Boom‘ Thursday. The song is the second single from its forthcoming EP, Every Twenty Years, which is scheduled for release 7 through Megaforce Records. The band debuted the EP’s lead single, a re-worked version of ‘Your Disease‘ last month.
While there are many similarities between the original and updated version of ‘Click Click Boom,’ there are also clear differences. The differences are most clear from the second verse on. The vocal delivery of current front man Bobby Amaru and former front man Josey Scott become evident over that course of time. There are also changes to the guitar line between the two renditions.
Founding member and guitarist Wayne Swinny talked about re-working the song in a prepared statement.
“Re-recording ‘Click Click Boom’ was much easier than the original recording because we already had the blueprint laid out for us,” he said. “There was no need to alter anything because the original had all the right pieces in all the right places. We simply used the advances in modern technology to enhance the song sonically.”
Pre-orders for Every Twenty Years are open now. Along with re-worked takes of ‘Click Click Boom’ and ‘Your Disease,’ the record also features updated versions of ‘After Me,’ ‘Greater Than/Less Than,’ and ‘Spyhunter’ and a cover of Soundgarden’s hit single, ‘Spoonman.’
More information on Saliva’s new single and EP is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante will release his new album this spring.
Silver Linings is scheduled for release May 14 through Megaforce Records. While the record sees Benante as the primary figure in its presentation, he stressed during a recent interview, that the album is not a solo record.
“This isn’t a solo album,” Charlie said, “This is a record of my favorite songs done with some of my friends during a very dark time. We found a shining light and this is the result of that light. I was really happy that my musician friends came on board and helped make this record what it is. I appreciate all of them, and they all did such a fantastic job. Despite all of the darkness we’ve experienced this past year, there are ‘silver linings,’ that’s why I chose that title for the album.”
He added, the album’s creation came about through the advice of someone close to himself.
“Back in February of last year, with COVID and all the other B.S. that was going on, I was glued to the 24-hour news cycle on the TV and my phone, and I started to get really depressed,” he said. My girlfriend said I needed to turn off the news and suggested I do something creative, whether it was art or drumming or writing new songs, and she was right.”
According to information provided about the 14-song record, it will feature an all-star cast of guest musicians and performers, such as guitarist John 5 (Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson), Alex Skolnick (Testament), and Corey Taylor (Slipknot).
Also featured on the new record are Run DMC member Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Rob Caggiano (Volbeat), and Ra Diaz (Suicidal Tendencies). The group recorded the song “Run-DMC Medley,’ which is one the songs featured in the album. The group premiered the song’s quarantine video in June 2020.
The whole of Silver Linings‘ track listing is noted below:
* “City of Blinding Lights”/U2 – Frank Bello, Mark Osegueda, Charlie Benante
* “Chloe Dancer / Crown of Horns”/Mother Love Bone – Mark Menghi, Mark Osegueda, Charlie Benante
* “Teardrop”/Massive Attack – Carla Harvey, Ra Diaz, Charlie Benante
* “Run DMC”/Run DMC – DMC, Rob Caggiano, Ra Diaz, Charlie Benante
* “Rhiannon”/Fleetwood Mac – Mark Menghi, Jennifer Cella, Randy McStine, Charlie Benante
* “Yer So Bad”/Tom Petty – Carla Harvey, Ra Diaz, Charlie Benante
* “Transylvania”/Iron Maiden – Snake Sabo, Frank Bello, Jon Donias, Charlie Benante
* “Presto Vivace”/U.K. – Ra Diaz, Alex Skolnick, Jordan Rudess, Charlie Benante
* “Bad Guy”/Billie Eilish – Ra Diaz, Charlie Benante
* “Jimmy James”/The Beastie Boys – Ra Diaz, Charlie Benante
* “All The Way”/KISS – PJ Farley, Joe McGinness, John 5, Charlie Benante
* “Mr Speed”/KISS – Joe McGinness, PJ Farley, Charlie Benante
* “Public Image”/Public Image – Hank Von Hell, Dave Brownsound, Jason “Cone” McCaslin, Charlie Benante
* “Funny Vibe”/Living Color – Ra Diaz, Corey Glover, Henry Flury, Charlie Benante
More information on Charlie Benante’s new album is available along with all of his latest news at:
Semisonic debuted another single this week from its forthcoming EP You’re Not Alone.
The band debuted the EP’s second single ‘All It Would Take‘ Friday. The song’s musical arrangement opens with a soft, subtle piano line and vocals that gradually builds into a more energetic and upbeat sound in its verses. That buildup serves to help translate the song’s lyrical theme.
Front man Dan Wilson discussed the song’s lyrical theme in a recent interview.
“I feel that in each of our lives, there is the possibility of meeting that one person who will change the way we see everything, a person who will give us a sense of new meaning, a mission, a passion,” said Wilson. “‘All it Would Take’ is my song for that moment, that person, that one voice that can change the world within you. Then you can turn outward and begin to change the world around you, too.”
Semisonic debuted the lead single from You’re Not Alone, its title track, last month. Its debut was followed early this month with the debut of the song’s companion video.
You’re Not Alone is scheduled for release Sept. 18 through Pleasuresonic Records/Megaforce Records. The EP’s track listing is noted below.
You’re Not Alone Tracklist:
1) You’re Not Alone
2) All It Would Take
3) Basement Tapes
4) Don’t Make Up Your Mind
5) Lightning
More information on Semisonic’s new single and EP is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Rock band Semisonic debuted the video for its latest single this week.
The band debuted the video for its single ‘You’re Not Alone‘ Monday. The video’s debut comes less than a month after the band debuted the single by itself, on June 26. The song and its new companion video are the band’s first in almost 20 years. The song is the lead single and title track from the band’s forthcoming EP, which is scheduled for release Sept. 18 through Pleasuresonic Records/Megaforce Records.
The video finds a young man making his way through a variety of settings, such as a back alley, a bridge, and a forest before finally reaching the band of a stream. It is here that the boy writes a message on a piece of paper before placing the message into a bottle, corking the bottle and tossing it into the water. Semisonic front man Dan Wilson finds the bottle during a walk on a beach and opens the message, which states simple, “You’re not alone.”
Wilson talked about the video in a recent interview.
“For the new Semisonic video, ‘You’re Not Alone,’ we began with memories of childhood in the woods,” explained Wilson. “Filmmaker Phil Harder creates a fable of the woods, the city, a distant beach, and a young boy who places a message in a bottle and sends it on a long journey. Inspired partly by Richard Powers’ devastatingly beautiful novel, ‘The Overstory,’ partly by the paintings of Tomas Sanchez (one of which is featured on the sleeve of the single), and partly by the profound isolation we are experiencing during the pandemic, the video reflects the hopeful message of the song.”
The song’s musical arrangement is a mid-tempo, guitar-driven work that takes listeners back to the 90s, and will keep them engaged and entertained throughout its three-minute-plus run time.
Front man Dan Wilson said in another recent interview, that the song’s lyrical content is a social commentary that came to being from his own experiences.
“I wrote ‘You’re Not Alone’ a couple of years ago at a time when a lot of people, including me, were feeling isolated and despairing about the state of the world and the direction our country was going,” said Wilson. “We recorded the song last year and I’m really happy that it’s now coming out. Coincidentally, the song is coming out when both a global pandemic and racial justice protests are compelling us to re-imagine our relationships to each other and the communities we live in. Just as I had hoped when I first wrote it, I hope the song will communicate a sense of connection and comfort, an awareness that we’re not alone.”
Wilson’s fellow Semisonic founding member John Munson added to the discussion, talking about the creation of Semisonic’s new EP.
“I think these songs have a really important and relevant story to tell,” said Munson.
“They embody this spirit of optimism about the possibility we can offer each other in times of hardship and struggle. I’ve always believed that a Semisonic song is one that gives you hope, one that sends you out into the night happy, one that leaves you feeling more connected to whatever it is that makes you human, and that’s something we need now more than ever.”
The EP’s track listing is noted below.
You’re Not Alone Tracklist:
1) You’re Not Alone
2) All It Would Take
3) Basement Tapes
4) Don’t Make Up Your Mind
5) Lightning
In the years since Semisonic released its last album All That Chemistry (2001), Monson, Wilson and fellow founding member Jacob Slichter all kept themselves busy even though the band never officially broke up. Slichter went on to become a contributor to the New York Times newspaper and to National Public Radio (NPR). Wilson became a first-call writer and producer. Wilson has worked with American Public Media and has performed with a variety of bands.
The band officially reunited in 2017 to celebrate the anniversaries of its albums Great Divide and Feeling Strangely Fine.
More information on Semisonic’s new single and EP is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
After being away from the industry for nearly 20 years, the band has released some new music. The band debuted its new single ‘You’re Not Alone‘ Friday. The song is the lead single/title track and opening number from the band’s forthcoming EP by the same name. The Ep is scheduled for release Sept. 18 through Pleasuresonic Recordings/Megaforce Records.
The song’s musical arrangement is a mid-tempo, guitar-driven work that takes listeners back to the 90s, and will keep them engaged and entertained throughout its three-minute-plus run time.
Front man Dan Wilson said in a recent interview, that the song’s lyrical content is a social commentary that come to being from his own experiences.
“I wrote ‘You’re Not Alone’ a couple of years ago at a time when a lot of people, including me, were feeling isolated and despairing about the state of the world and the direction our country was going,” said Wilson. “We recorded the song last year and I’m really happy that it’s now coming out. Coincidentally, the song is coming out when both a global pandemic and racial justice protests are compelling us to re-imagine our relationships to each other and the communities we live in. Just as I had hoped when I first wrote it, I hope the song will communicate a sense of connection and comfort, an awareness that we’re not alone.”
Wilson’s fellow Semisonic founding member John Munson added to the discussion, talking about the creation of Semisonic’s new EP.
“I think these songs have a really important and relevant story to tell,” said Munson.
“They embody this spirit of optimism about the possibility we can offer each other in times of hardship and struggle. I’ve always believed that a Semisonic song is one that gives you hope, one that sends you out into the night happy, one that leaves you feeling more connected to whatever it is that makes you human, and that’s something we need now more than ever.”
The EP’s track listing is noted below.
You’re Not Alone Tracklist:
1) You’re Not Alone
2) All It Would Take
3) Basement Tapes
4) Don’t Make Up Your Mind
5) Lightning
In the years since Semisonic released its last album All That Chemistry (2001), Monson, Wilson and fellow founding member Jacob Slichter all kept themselves busy even though the band never officially broke up. Slichter went on to become a contributor to the New York Times newspaper and to National Public Radio (NPR). Wilson became a first-call writer and producer. Wilson has worked with American Public Media and has performed with a variety of bands.
The band officially reunited in 2017 to celebrate the anniversaries of its albums Great Divide and Feeling Strangely Fine.
More information on Semisonic’s new single and EP is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
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