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Following guitarist E.V. Martel’s announcement that he will not be available next year, Manowar have invited metal shred legend Michael Angelo Batio to perform with them.
Martel announced on social media that he will take a break from touring for personal reasons. He added: “Manowar, their crew, along with all the Manowarriors around the world have been really great to me from the moment I came onboard. I could not be more thankful for the good times we have shared.”
W.A.S.P. are currently playing to sold-out audiences throughout the US on their 40 Years Live tour. Last night (November 19th) in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania ,drummer Aquiles Priester filmed the crowd singing the band’s classic “I Wanna Be Somebody”.
W.A.S.P. are offering their first ever VIP meet and greet packages on the US leg of the 40 Years Live World Tour.
Rounding off a special anniversary year for the band (35 years since foundation of the group as well as launching the debut album Animal House) and its fearless leader & voice Udo Dirkschneider (who turned 70 this April), German heavy metal legends U.D.O. have released an extensive career-spanning "best of" compilation, The Legacy.
Colorado based heavy metal band, Jag Panzer, have announced that touring guitarist Ken Rodarte has officially become the band's new lead guitarist.
Founding member Mark Briody said: “Ken’s done a great job on the last several tours. When he expressed interested in joining the band we put him on an 8-week audition to see how he’d fit in with our creative process.
BMG have released of a commemorative triple black vinyl album in honor of the 40th Anniversary of Iron Maiden’s seminal third album, The Number Of The Beast, which was also the first to feature Bruce Dickinson on vocals and was to become the record which catapulted the band to international stardom. Find a new visualizer for the track, "Total Eclipse", below.
The pioneers of Japanese heavy metal, Loudness, have released an official video for "Tengoku No Tobira (Heaven's Door)", featured on their new album, Sunburst, out now via earMUSIC
Back in 1981 rose the star of the Japanese hard ’n heavy scene, when Munetaka Higuchi (drums), Akira Takasaki (guitar), Minoru Niihara (vocals) and Masayoshi Yamashita (bass) were set to found a legend to this day, who is still second to none from their native Japan: Loudness was born!
In line with their current live shows, Stratovarius have released a visually stunning music video for "Survive", the title track of their new album.
It offers intimate insight into the band's everyday touring life and increases fans anticipation for upcoming live concerts.
Originally released 12 years ago, Masterplan’s epic, fourth studio album Time To Be King – long gone out of print – is finally back in stock. For the first time ever as coloured, red LP Gatefold, the re-release of this highly collectable vinyl edition is now available via the AFM Records store.
Time To Be King was released on May 21, 2010, after Masterplan’s original singer Jorn Lande rejoined forces with the band.
On November 11, 2022, former Judas Priest guitarist and recent inductee into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame K.K. Downing was at his club, KK's Steel Mill in Wolverhampton, UK to catch Ugly Kid Joe's headlining set.
Just prior to UKJ taking the stage, K.K. Downing spoke to Danny Stoakes about the current status of the second KK's Priest album