Judas Priest Share Cover Of "War Pigs" Ahead Of Black Sabbath's Final Show

On Wednesday (July 2), Judas Priest revealed their cover of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” as a tribute ahead of the heavy metal legend’s final concert on Saturday (July 5). “We are honored to show our love for Ozzy and Black Sabbath with our homage to 'War Pigs,'” the band wrote, calling the metal anthem, “A song we play at every show around the world that fans sing along to.” Despite not being able to perform at Sabbath’s farewell show in their shared hometown of Birmingham, England – due to a prior commitment supporting Scorpions in Germany – Priest frontman Rob Halford expressed his excitement for the event. “All my mates are going to be there though, great bands and artists,” Halford said. “It’s a wonderful and epic moment for Sabbath and heavy metal — it re-emphasizes that Birmingham is where metal came from.” (Consequence of Sound) 

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Dragonsclaw Release First Single & Video "Don't Break The Silence Again"

DRAGONSCLAW is the name one of the first bands Giles Lavery co-formed with Ben Thomas in 2010, while still residing in Sydney, Australia. Their debut album »Prophecy« was quickly recorded in 2011, followed by »Judgement Day« (2013). And now, a record breaking twelve years later, it’s time for the follow-up.Apart from Giles Lavery on vocals, »Moving Target« features Australian citizens Ben Thomas (guitars) and Aaron Thomas (bass) as well Warlord members Mark Zonder (drums) and Jimmy Waldo (keyboards).“For me the direction on »Moving Target« was intended to be if Judas Priest had made an album somewhere in 1985 between »Defenders Of The Faith« and »Turbo«,” describes the vocalist the sound of the new DRAGONSCLAW album, “with some of the second Fifth Angel album in there too.”Keyboards are prominently featured on »Moving Target«, which was actually the original plan of the band: “I think for this album the keyboards are very important, they create the needed atmosphere and drama. I would say that we used them in a similar way that Virgin Steele did on »Age Of Consent«, namely to build atmosphere. I really like that haunting effect keyboards can have when used right. Like Tony Banks from Genesis does, or Tony Carey on his Planet P Project albums ... Jimmy Waldo is one of those guys too.”Probably the fastest and most upbeat number on »Moving Target« is called “Shadowfire”. And it comes with a surprise: “’Shadowfire’ reminded me of a current-day Riot song, so I asked Todd Michael Hall to sing on it with me, and he was kind enough to do so!”“(Tell Me) All Your Lies”, on the other hand, another standout track on »Moving Target«, is quite an accessible composition, possibly the catchiest tune on »Moving Target«. It’s got a bit of that “Wasted Years” Maiden-vibe, following the Adrian Smith school of songwriting. “I am glad you noticed that,” laughs the singer. “As I heard that too ... Co-producer Thomas Mergler was largely responsible for helping to finish that song up as it wasn't quite right and he added some very good ideas to it.”With the band on fire and Giles Lavery, the singer, coming across as a blend of Michael Kiske, Geoff Tate and Ronnie James Dio, »Moving Target« has every chance to become a modern-day heavy metal classic.TRACKLISTING:01 The Road Beneath Your Wheels02 Survival03 Cry Wolf04 Don't Break the Silence again05 Back on the Streets06 Ghost Soldiers07 Shadowfire08 (Tell me) All Your Lies09 Raise Your FistLINE-UP:Giles Lavery - VocalsBen Thomas - GuitarAaron Thomas - BassJimmy Waldo - KeysMark Zonder - Drums

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Cast Revealed For Upcoming Scorpions Biopic, Featuring ‘The Crown’ Star Dominic West

The upcoming Scorpions biopic, Wind of Change, has officially revealed its cast, with Dominic West, Alexander Dreymon, and Ludwig Trepte set to portray key band members along with manager Doc McGhee. The movie is currently filming in London, with the project directed by Alex Ranarivelo and produced by ESX Entertainment for FOX Entertainment Studios in association with Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. A theatrical release for the film is planned by year-end. “This cast is an amazing ensemble of truly great talent,” says Ali Afshar, president of ESX Entertainment. “I can’t thank FOX Entertainment and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment enough for their support and especially the band — Rudolf, Klaus and Matthias — for believing in us and trusting us to tell their life story.” Scorpions are marking their 60th anniversary by releasing a greatest-hits compilation, and staging a five-night Las Vegas residency in August at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. (Consequence of Sound)

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SPEED QUEEN RELEASE FIRST SINGLE "SHOWDOWN"

Speed Queen from Limburg in Belgium are not to be confused with the French band of the same name from the early 1980s. Founded in 2014, an initial demo was followed by two EPs, »King Of The Road« (Babylon Doom Cult Records, 2017) and their High Roller debut »Still On The Road« in 2020. The band consists of Thomas Kenis (vocals, tambourine), Andreas Stieglitz (guitars, synths), Lander Savelkoul (bass) and Toon Driezen (drums).

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30th Anniversary Expanded Reissue Of Van Halen's ‘Balance’ On The Way

Van Halen's 1995 album, Balance, is set to receive a 30th anniversary expanded reissue on August 15 through Rhino, with the collection available in 2-LP and 2-CD editions. The band also shared an album teaser for the release, which will feature remastered audio sourced from the 2023 box set, along with three non-album tracks and previously unreleased live recordings from a 1995 performance at Wembley Stadium. The deluxe edition box set includes both LPs and CDs, as well as an exclusive Blu-ray disc featuring era-specific music videos and promo clips. While the reissue compiles all officially released studio material from the Balance era, the sought-after recording, "Between Us Two," which was initially intended for the Twister soundtrack but was ultimately shelved, did not surface for this release. Pre-orders for the deluxe edition and vinyl/CD versions are currently ongoing via Rhino’s webstore. (Consequence of Sound)

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AC/DC Announces First Tour Of Their Native Australia In Ten Years

On Sunday (June 22), AC/DC announced the dates and details of their highly-anticipated 2025 Australian stadium tour, the band's first national run since 2015. The hard rock legends will continue their ongoing Power Up Tour with five dates in their home country, starting on November 12 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, then hitting Sydney, Adelaide, and Perth, before finishing at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on December 14. Support for these shows will come from fellow Australian rockers, Amyl and the Sniffers, with the band’s frontwoman Amy Taylor writing on her Instagram Story, “AC/DC! The best rock and roll band in the world. I am so excited. Highlight of my literal life.” The Power Up Tour is in support of the band’s 2020 studio album, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. AC/DC’s upcoming dates will be produced by TEG Van Egmond, who previously oversaw the band’s record-breaking Black Ice (2009) and Rock or Bust (2015) tours, which included their last Australian/New Zealand run, where they sold over 520,000 tickets across 11 shows. (Billboard)

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Mob Rules Unleash Music Video for brand new single “Trial and Trail of Fear”

Seven long years since their latest studio offering, North German power metal collective MOB RULES returns with their eagerly awaited new album, entitled “Rise Of The Ruler”, that is slated for a release on August 22nd via ROAR. The follow-up to 2018's successful album “Beast Reborn” (which reached a sensational #37 in the German and #59 in the Swiss album charts) is not only a work brimming with creativity, wit and quality, but also the conceptual continuation of their two early albums “Savage Land” (1999) and “Temple Of Two Suns” (2000), with which MOB RULES laid the foundation for their career. Both albums are linked by an exciting concept story about life in a dystopian, hostile end-time world in which resources are becoming scarce. This is exactly where the band's new offering “Rise Of The Ruler” comes in and keyboardist Jan Christian Halfbrodt (who is responsible for all the lyrics) continues the thread. After previously-released songs, “Back To Savage Land” and "Future Loom", today, MOB RULES are  premiering an epic video clip for their new single “Trial and Trail of Fear"!  "The song 'Trial and Trail of Fear' is based on lumbering heavy metal riffs and creates an epic atmosphere," comments singer Klaus Dirks. "Lyrically, it deals with a scenario that many can relate to: one knows the feeling of diving headfirst into a new challenge, only to feel completely overwhelmed and fighting with all one's might to keep going."

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Black Sabbath's Star-Studded Final Concert Will Be Streaming Worldwide

Black Sabbath's final all-star concert at Villa Park in Birmingham, England on July 5 will now be available to stream worldwide for $29.99. Fans can also purchase a livestream ticket bundled with a collectible T-shirt for $64.98, with the livestream set to be delayed two hours behind the actual show start time in the UK. It will begin at 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT on July 5th, and will also be available on replay for 48 hours after its start time. The historic event, dubbed Back to the Beginning, will include a solo set by Ozzy Osbourne, alongside a performance by the reunited Sabbath lineup featuring Ozzy, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. The rest of the stacked lineup includes Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Tool, Slayer, Pantera, Alice in Chains, Anthrax, and many more. Ozzy is training his voice and his body in order to be ready for the upcoming show despite battling numerous health issues, saying that he’s having his “blood pressure taken 15 times a day,” while promising, “All I can say is I’m giving 120 percent.” (Consequence of Sound)

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Original Alice Cooper Group Share New Music Video For “Wild Ones”

On Wednesday, the reunited Alice Cooper Group released a music video for “Wild Ones,” the latest single from their upcoming album, The Revenge of Alice Cooper, which is set to be released on July 25. The song and video draws inspiration from the rebellious spirit of Marlon Brando’s 1953 film, The Wild One, with the band – featuring surviving original members of Cooper’s classic lineup from his celebrated 70s albums – shown recording the rousing track in the studio together. The 14-song record will also feature a posthumous appearance by original guitarist Glen Buxton, who died in 1997, via the previously unreleased song, “What Happened to You.” While a box set edition will include a rediscovered 1970 version of “Return of the Spiders,” which was remixed by producer Bob Ezrin. This fall, Cooper will hit the road for a 22-date co-headlining tour of North America with Judas Priest. (Rolling Stone)

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Iron Maiden Requests Fans "Severely Limit" Phone Usage During Upcoming Shows

On Tuesday (May 20), Iron Maiden shared a message urging fans to limit their phone usage during their upcoming Run for Your Lives World Tour, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the legendary heavy metal band. “We really want fans to enjoy the shows first hand, rather than on their small screens,” explains Maiden’s longtime manager, Rod Smallwood. “The amount of phone use nowadays diminishes enjoyment, particularly for the band who are on stage looking out at rows of phones, but also for other concertgoers. The phone obsession has now got so out of hand that it has become unnecessarily distracting especially to the band. I hope fans will be sensible in severely limiting the use of their phone cameras out of respect for the band and their fellow fans.” Smallwood hopes fans “have the time of your lives as you join your Maiden family by singing your heart out, rather than getting your phone out!” Maiden’s tour gets underway on May 27 with a sold-out show in Budapest. (Consequence of Sound)

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Martyr Release Title Track "Dark Believer" For Aug 15 Album

Dutch metal powerhouse Martyr has announced their brand new studio album, entitled "Dark Believer", for an August 15th-release on ROAR! A video clip for the band's first single, the colossal album title track, is now premiering below!   “The first single from our upcoming album Dark Believer is HERE. During the writing and recording process, this song evolved into something dark and mysterious,“ the band states. “Embracing the shadows—where demons lurk, witches chant, and lost souls are drawn into the unknown. Heaviness meets melody. Crushing riffs. Epic vocals. Relentless bass and drums. It’s pure MARTYR metal. Dark Believer is your first descent into the abyss we’ve carved on our new album. A taste of evil, despair, and hypocrisy that stains the soul of humanity.”  

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