Tourniquet's Gary Lenaire shares a little-known about drummer Ted Kirkpatrick (RIP)

Currently Gary Lenaire is leading a major re-formation of Tourniquet, the legendary metal missionaries, and is in the process of recording a brand-new studio album. This is a major turnaround for the band, which had effectively ended in 2022 following the death of founder and drummer Ted Kirkpatrick.

On March 5, 2026 Gary posted this little known story about when Ted was about to become the permanent drummer for Slayer! Gary wrote:

In 1987, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue #Tourniquet. The drummer for Slayer was Tony Scaglione, Dave Lombardo’s replacement. Scaglione, who was a member of the band Whiplash, was recruited to fill in for Dave Lombardo after he briefly left the group in late 1986 during the Reign in Blood tour. Scaglione performed with the band on both the North American and European legs of the tour before Lombardo was persuaded to return to the lineup later in 1987. However, there was another Slayer drummer in the time between Tony’s stint and Dave’s return. Only a few of us know about that. It was the time Slayer was preparing to record the South of Heaven record. Tony was now gone and Dave hadn’t yet returned.

During that small window of time Ted, Guy, and I were working on new material for what would become the Stop The Bleeding record. We were told that producer Rick Ruben contacted Bill Metoyer asking him for drummer references for the Slayer record. Bill indeed had a drummer in mind. That drummer was a Christian friend of ours. We knew him well, very well. He was more than able to perform in Slayer. He told us that he was going to do the audition. When he told us, we were apprehensive yet respectful to him about it. Amongst ourselves we were like, “really, Slayer? Aren’t they satanic?” It seemed very odd, but we sought to not judge him.

Our friend caught up with us after the audition. He said when his drums were set up, the Slayer guys entered the studio. They called out the song “Angel of Death” to start with. Not an easy tune to play…accurately. He said he got through it OK, but was very out of breath. The Slayer guys looked at him and then called the same song, just seconds after it ended. He told us he was able to play it again without mistakes. He got the gig. He was slated to play on the South of Heaven record then do the tour. Just a few weeks later Dave Lombardo returned to Slayer and our friend was fired, and he returned to the Christian Metal band he was playing in before the Slayer thing.

I’m sharing this because it’s very easy to judge people, especially people you don’t know. Some musicians working in the business are employed by companies (bands, etc.) they share no personal beliefs with. It’s a job for them. It is our individual choice/responsibilty in this world to determine what is righteous, ethical, good. It’s the armchair quarterbacks (usually with no real success in entertainment) that are the loudest and most judgmental.

Our friend went on to be one of the best drummers in Christian Metal. I believe God protected him from being in Slayer, a band with very conflicting messages from his professed beliefs.

I suggest that it is good to not judge, especially in public, the moral / spiritual intent of artists and others working for their living. You haven’t walked in their shoes.

Tourniquet - SWARMING SPIRITS - from Stop the Bleeding (1990 album)

THE HALO EFFECT – Lest We Fall ft. Marcus Bischoff & Brian Eschbach (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

According to Metal Archives, The Halo Effect is a melodic death metal band from Sweden. The band started in 2019. All five members used to play in the famous band In Flames. The band members are Mikael Stanne, Jesper Strömblad, Niclas Engelin, Peter Iwers, and Daniel Svensson. The band released their second album, March of the Unheard, on January 10, 2025. It was released by Nuclear Blast Records. The album is about 44 minutes long and has 12 songs. The album features these 12 tracks: "Conspire to Deceive," "Detonate," "Our Channel to the Darkness," "Cruel Perception," "What We Become," "This Curse of Silence," "March of the Unheard," "Forever Astray," "Between Directions," "A Death That Becomes Us," "The Burning Point," and "Coda."

Official video for ‪‪@thehaloeffectse‬'s new single featuring vocals by Marcus Bischoff from ‪@HeavenShallBurnOfficial‬ and Brian Eschbach from ‪@blackdahliamurdertv‬.

CREDITS

Lest We Fall

Written by Niclas Engelin, Mikael Stanne, Peter Iwers, Jesper Strömblad, Daniel Svensson

Featuring vocals by Marcus Bischoff from Heaven Shall Burn and Brian Eschbach from The Black Dahlia Murder

Produced by Niclas Engelin and Oscar Nilsson

Mixed by Oscar Nilsson at Studio Bohus

Mastered by Thomas „Plec“ Johansson

Music video by Linda Florin

Filmed during Heimat Over Europe Tour 2026

THE HALO EFFECT – Lest We Fall ft. Marcus Bischoff & Brian Eschbach (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

TED NUGENT - "Little Miss Dangerous"

TED NUGENT - "Little Miss Dangerous"

Ted Nugent

Little Miss Dangerous

Atlantic Records

March 1986

I cannot seem to find the specific day in March 1986 for when the legendary guitarist, the Motor City Madman himself, TED NUGENT's ninth studio album Little Miss Dangerous came out. I have seen that some people say it is March 15, 1986, but I cannot confirm that. The album features Ted Nugent on lead guitar and vocals. Dave Amato plays rhythm guitar and sings some parts. Ricky Phillips plays bass and Michael Mason is on drums. The songs on the album are "High Heels in Motion," "Strangers," "Little Miss Dangerous," "Savage Dancer," and "Crazy Ladies." The second side includes "When Your Body Talks," "My Little Red Book," "Take Me Away," "Angry Young Man," and "Painkiller."

This particular album has a connection to the TV show Miami Vice because the show featured some of this music, and Ted himself appeared on the show! They gave him a bad-guy role, and I've seen the clips on YouTube, and Ted is, let's say, taking care of business the hard way because the nice way apparently doesn't work with people in Miami ha ha!

Anyway, here is the title track. It's a smooth midtempo song with a lot of groove. I think I have read that Ted was under pressure from the record label executives to adapt more to the 1980s MTV sound, so this is not really the type of production that he would prefer. He likes a rowdier sound. He feels that this production is little too slick, let's say, but the song is good and the musicianship is good. Personally, I don't mind the production, either. Either way, it's still Ted Nugent!

Little Miss Dangerous

SCARLET ANGER - H U N G E R (OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO)

According to Metal Archives, the band Scarlet Anger released their third full-length album, Martyr, on January 20, 2024. The band comes from Luxembourg. This album was released as a CD in a digisleeve format. It is about 35 minutes long and has seven songs. The album includes the following tracks: "The Destroyer," "No Time," "Martyr," "Akrasia," "Hunger," "Divided," and "Behind the Mask." The current lineup features singer Joe Block, guitarists Fred Molitor and Jeff Buchette, bassist Vincent Niclou, and drummer Rod Sovilla.

SCARLET ANGER - H U N G E R (OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO)

Hellslaught - new merch!

new merch from Seattle black thrash band Hellslaught: We've got our new Violent Iconoclasm tees up on bandcamp now!

https://hellslaught.bandcamp.com/merch

Ted Nugent - High Heels in Motion

"High Heels in Motion" is a fun rocker anthem from the March 1986 Ted Nugent album Miss Little Dangerous. According to Wikipedia, the American Motor City Madman Ted Nugent released the ninth studio album, Little Miss Dangerous, in March 1986. The album was recorded between April and November 1985 and is known for its fun heavy hard rock heavy metal 1980s style. It has a total length of 38 minutes and 32 seconds. The title track became very famous after it was used in two episodes of the television show Miami Vice, and Ted appeared not the show itself! The album features the following ten tracks: "High Heels in Motion," "Strangers," "Little Miss Dangerous," "Savage Dancer," "Crazy Ladies," "When Your Body Talks," "Little Red Book," "Take Me Away," "Angry Young Man," and "Painkiller."

High Heels in Motion

Sanhedrin - heavy metal from New York, USA

According to Metal Archives, the American heavy metal band Sanhedrin from Brooklyn, New York, released their fourth full-length album, Heat Lightning, on March 14, 2025. This independent digital release has received high praise from fans, with an average review score of 83%. The album is 43 minutes and 54 seconds long. The album features the following nine tracks: "Blind Wolf," "Heat Lightning," "Above the Law," "The Fight of Your Life," "King of Tides," "Franklin County Line," "Let's Spill Some Blood," "High Threshold for Pain," and "When the Will Becomes the Chain." The band continues to perform as a power trio featuring Erica Stoltz on vocals and bass, Jeremy Sosville on guitar, and Nathan Harrison on drums. A reviewer on Metal Archives wrote: "Although The Poisoner remains my most memorable Sanhedrin release, there's no denying 2025's Heat Lightning rules as their best so far."

Happy anniversary to DEMON HUNTER's The World Is a Thorn!

Demon Hunter

The World Is a Thorn

Solid State

March 9, 2010

Wikipedia shows March 9, 2010 as the release date. It is the fifth studio album by the American metal band Demon Hunter. Produced by Aaron Sprinkle and mixed by Jason Suecof, the album features a shift in the lineup, marking the only appearance of rhythm guitarist Ryan Helm. Musically, the band described the release as their most aggressive yet melodic work to date, blending their established metalcore sound with additional metal influences and guest vocal appearances from Björn "Speed" Strid (Soilwork), Christian Älvestam (Solution .45, Scar Symmetry, etc.), and Dave Peters (Throwdown). Some people see the record's lyrical themes, written by frontman Ryan Clark, focus largely on the defense of Christian convictions within a modern secular society, as reflected in the title track and the lead single "Collapsing." Visually, the album is notable for its intricate cover art created by Dan Seagrave, the legendary death metal album cover artist. The World Is a Thorn debuted at number 39 on the Billboard 200, representing the band's highest chart position at that point in their career. 

If you are interested in the lyrics, to the understanding of some critics, the album, while not explicitly preaching, taken together with the band's own statements give a conceptual framework. "The World Is a Thorn" express non-conformity to the ideals of the world: "Won’t bow to man / Won’t bow to government / Won’t love a world where my God is mocked," refusing to align with secular or "modern" world. "Tie This Around Your Neck" tackles the idea that human beings are their own gods and that they do not need God, as a self-destructive lie, according to the band. Additionally, with the world as a thorn, the band puts the Christian faith as one of endurance and preservation of values in an environment made to choke out faith.

The album has a total running time of 41 minutes and 34 seconds. It opens with "Descending Upon Us," followed by the aggressive "LifeWar" and the lead single "Collapsing," (see the video below) which features Björn "Speed" Strid of Soilwork. The middle of the album is "This Is the Line," "Driving Nails," the fast-paced title track, and "Tie This Around Your Neck." The final portion features further guest appearances, including Christian Älvestam (ex-Scar Symmetry) on "Just Breathe" and Dave Peters of Throwdown on "Feel as Though You Could," and then the last two tracks are "Shallow Water" and the melodic closer "Blood in the Tears."

Musically, I see the album as the converging of American and European metal currents into that journey, that quest that is Demon Hunter. There is quite a bit of variety! If I had to label the album, I thik I would say that it is melodic death metal, more than anything.

Demon Hunter - Collapsing Official Music Video

Happy anniversary to a great, great demo: MEGADETH's Last Rites (1984)!

Megadeth

Last Rites

March 9, 1984

According to some internet sources, this amazing demo, came out on March 9, 1984. Metal Archives shows that it was recorded at Hitman Studios in Hollywood, California, This three-song (11 minutes and 26 seconds) demo was, at long last, the opening salvo by Megadeth, and what a salvo it is! Metal Archives shows that the lineup was Dave Mustaine on vocals and guitar, David Ellefson on bass, and Lee Rauch or Gar Samuelson on drums. The tracklist includes early versions of "Last Rites/Loved to Deth," "Mechanix," and "The Skull Beneath the Skin," all of which were later re-recorded for the band's 1985 debut studio album, Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!. While a fourth track, "Rattlehead," was also recorded during these sessions, it was not included on the official demo release.

I do not remember which Megadeth guitarist has said that these early Megadeth songs are not easy on the hands and fingers! It's a wild ride. The demo has a raw production and extreme tempo, and some people say that the version of "Mechanix" is performed at a higher speed than the later studio recording. 

Wikipedia says, "Two months after being fired from Metallica, Mustaine met bassist David Ellefson and together they formed Megadeth in Los Angeles. Mustaine later recalled: 'After getting fired from Metallica, all I remember is that I wanted blood. Theirs. I wanted to be faster and heavier than them.' Fueled by the desire for revenge, Mustaine elevated the intensity of Megadeth's music in order to challenge his former band. He sped up existing songs such as 'Mechanix', which Metallica's new line-up adapted into the slower-paced 'The Four Horsemen.' Mustaine included his original version of the song on the album to 'straighten Metallica up', as Metallica referred to Mustaine as a drunk, and said that he could not play guitar. After going through multiple vocalists, including Lor Kane, Billy Bonds and John Cyriis, Mustaine decided to handle the vocal duties himself, while also serving as the band's primary lyricist, main songwriter, and co-lead and rhythm guitarist."

Megadeth - Last Rites / Loved to Deth (Demo) (Remastered)

Megadeth - The Skull Beneath the Skin (Demo) (Remastered)

Megadeth - Mechanix (Demo) (Remastered)

In Memory of DARK ANGEL Guitarist Jim Durkin (1965-2023)

James Durkin (February 7, 1965 - March 8, 2023)

According to Metal Archives, Jim Durkin was a founding guitarist of the thrash metal band Dark Angel and a primary songwriter during the band's formative years. He performed on the group's first three studio albums: We Have Arrived (1985), the highly influential Darkness Descends (1986), and Leave Scars (1989). Although he left the band in 1989, he participated in a brief reunion in 2002 and rejoined officially in 2013, remaining a member until his passing. Outside of Dark Angel, he was the founding guitarist for Dreams of Damnation, releasing the full-length album Epic Tales of Vengeance in 2006, and contributed guest solos to bands such as Army of Darkness. Jim Durkin passed away at the age of 58 on March 8, 2023, following a period of illness later identified as severe liver disease. Though he had been inactive from live performances since 2020 for personal reasons, he remained an official member of Dark Angel, and his final songwriting contributions appear posthumously on the 2025 album Extinction Level Event. Following his death, the band announced they would continue in his memory, with guitarist Laura Christine taking his place at his prior request.

Dark Angel - Live In Philadelphia 1988 HD (The Ultimate Revenge 2 1989) DVD Remaster

In Memory of ARTILLERY Drummer Josua Madsen (1978-2023)

Josua Lander Madsen (March 1, 1978 - March 8, 2023)

According to Metal Archives, Josua Madsen was a Danish drummer best known for his long-standing tenure in the thrash metal band Artillery. Born on March 1, 1978, Madsen joined Artillery in 2012, serving as a key member of the rhythm section for over a decade. During his time with the group, he performed on four full-length studio albums: Legions (2013), Penalty by Perception (2016), The Face of Fear (2018), and X (2021). Beyond his primary role as a drummer, he also contributed percussion and backing vocals to several of these recordings. His discography with the band includes various singles and live recordings, such as the 2024 posthumous release Raw Live (At Copenhell). Outside of Artillery, Madsen was also involved with projects such as Dennis Develin, Club Hell, and the progressive death metal band Consumned. Josua Madsen passed away at the age of 45 on March 8, 2023, after being struck by a bus while walking home from a rehearsal.

DRUMCAM - JOSUA MADSEN (BANDA: ARTILLERY) TEMA "BY INHERITANCE"

In Memory of HELLOWEEN Drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg (1965-1995)

Ingo Schwichtenberg (May 18, 1965 – 8 March 8, 1995)

According to the information on Metal Archives, Ingo Schwichtenberg, a foundational figure in the development of European power metal, began his music career in the late 1970s and early 1980s with the Hamburg-based bands Gentry (1980–1981), Second Hell (1981–1982), and Iron Fist (1982–1983). In 1984, he became a founding member of Helloween, a band name he reportedly suggested after being inspired by the film Halloween. He served as the group's drummer for nearly a decade, performing on all major releases from the 1984 Death Metal split and the 1985 self-titled EP through the Keeper of the Seven Keys series, and concluding with the 1993 album Chameleon. Known to fans as "Mr. Smile" for his upbeat personality and high-energy playing style, he was a key architect of the early Helloween sound. Metal Archives also shows that Schwichtenberg was dismissed from Helloween in 1993 during the Chameleon tour due to health issues and internal friction. He had been struggling with hereditary schizophrenia and substance dependency, which significantly impacted his ability to perform. Following his departure, his health continued to decline, and he passed away on March 8, 1995, at the age of 29. His death had a profound impact on the metal community. In 1995, Kai Hansen dedicated the track "Afterlife" from Gamma Ray's Land of the Free album to his memory. In 1996, Michael Kiske dedicated the song "Always" from his debut solo album Instant Clarity to the drummer, and Helloween officially dedicated their 1996 album The Time of the Oath to him as well.

Ingo Schwichtenberg Backstage & Soundcheck (Japan 1989)

Helloween - Ride The Sky (MULTICAM) '85

Helloween - Eagle Fly Free (Ingo Schwichtenberg) 1989 Live in Japan

In Memory of ENTOMBED Vocalist L-G Petrov(1972-2021)

Lars-Göran Petrov (February 17, 1972 - Mar 7th, 2021)

According to Metal Archives, Lars-Göran "LG" Petrov was a Swedish vocalist best known for his work with Entombed. He began his career in the late 1980s as the drummer for Morbid and the vocalist for Nihilist. In 1990, he performed vocals on Entombed's debut album, Left Hand Path. Although he did not sing on the 1991 album Clandestine, he returned to the band for Wolverine Blues in 1993 and remained their lead singer for every studio album until 2007. In 2014, following a split within the band, he formed Entombed A.D. and released three albums: Back to the Front (2014), Dead Dawn (2016), and Bowels of Earth (2019). He was also a member of the death metal band Firespawn and contributed guest vocals to tracks by Amon Amarth, Behemoth, and The Project Hate MCMXCIX. LG Petrov died on March 7, 2021, at the age of 49.

Like many death metal fans, I like the first Entombed album the most. Actually, to be perfectly frank, Entombed shone for a brief moment, and quickly proceeded to shoot themselves in the foot repeatedly. LG did vocals on the first album, and before you could blink, Entombed replaced him. Entombed used to blame their drama on Johnny from Unleashed, so without Johnny things were going to be smooth, right? Of course, not! Fans did not like the replacement vocals on the second album. Then, they get LG back, and so you would think they would finally straighten up and dance with the one that brung them: death metal. Nope! They went on trying to be some type of retro 1970s rock band with heavier guitars, or sometimes it felt they also wanted to be a punk band. Such a frustrating band! And I'm here yelling, "Oh, for goodness' sake, can't you just make a real death metal album like you did that one time?!" Eventually, maybe ten years later, it finally dawned on them to try to make death metal. Talk about too little too late. There was always way, way too much drama, in a bad way, with Entombed.

But at the end of the 1980s, in the summer of 1990, Entombed shone very bright with a good album with a bunch of awesome songs.

Entombed - live - 8.12.1990 Norrköping, Sverige

Happy birthday to WARREL DANE (1961-2017), singer for Sanctuary and Nevermore

Warrel George Baker (March 7, 1961 - December 13, 2017)

Warrel Dane is most well known for his work with Sanctuary and Nevermore. Metal Archives shows that his recording history with Sanctuary began with a 1986 demo, followed by the studio albums Refuge Denied in 1987 and Into the Mirror Black in 1990. After the band's initial split, he returned to record The Year the Sun Died in 2014 and the Inception compilation in 2017.

His tenure as the lead vocalist for Nevermore lasted from 1992 to 2011, during which he performed on every major release. This includes the self-titled debut in 1995, The Politics of Ecstasy in 1996, Dreaming Neon Black in 1999, and Dead Heart in a Dead World in 2000. He concluded his work with the band by providing vocals for Enemies of Reality (2003), This Godless Endeavor (2005), and The Obsidian Conspiracy in 2010.

Wikipedia has interesting information about Warrel Dane's voice. Wikipedia says that Warrel Dane was trained opera singer. Did you know that?! Maybe that's common knowledge, but I did not know that. To me he was simply an awesome heavy metal music singer. Anyway, this is what Wikipedia says:

Warrel Dane (born Warrel George Baker; March 7, 1961 – December 13, 2017) was an American musician and the lead singer for the heavy metal bands Sanctuary and Nevermore. He was a natural baritone; though he was initially known for his high-pitched vocals with Serpent's Knight and on the first two Sanctuary albums. Later in his career, Dane became more recognized for his distinctively deep, dramatic voice.

Dane trained as an opera singer for five years and developed a broad vocal range, spanning from notes as low as G♯ below low C, or G♯1, to notes as high as the B♭ below soprano C, or B♭5. While his high head voice vocals were more prominent in the earlier Sanctuary albums, he occasionally employed them in his work with Nevermore as well. Sanctuary's 2014 comeback album, The Year the Sun Died, features these higher passages on three songs.

Dane provided the voice of Candynose Twinskins in the musical comedy Metalocalypse on Adult Swim.

Dane's first solo album, Praises to the War Machine, was released on May 13, 2008, by Century Media Records. At the time of his death, he was working on a second album, which he stated would differ from his first solo effort: "Some of it is just brutally heavy", Dane said. In March 2016, the title of the album was revealed to be Shadow Work. The recording session was initially scheduled for October 2016.

On December 13, 2017, it was reported that Dane had died of a heart attack in São Paulo, Brazil, at the age of 56. He had been working there on his second solo album, Shadow Work. Johnny Moraes, the guitarist in Dane's solo band, stated, "He died in the night. He had a heart attack. He was in the apartment where he stayed during the recording of the album when it happened. I gave him cardiac massage, and we called the Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU), who came very fast, but when they arrived, he was already dead." Moraes mentioned that Dane had been dealing with numerous health issues, including a history of alcohol abuse and type 2 diabetes.

SANCTUARY - Live AT Rock HARD Festival 2015 / The last show in memory of WARREL DANE (pro-shot).

NEVERMORE - The Year Of The Voyager (Full Performance)

Happy anniversary to DEMON HUNTER's piano album: Songs of Death and Resurrection!!

Demon Hunter

Songs of Death and Resurrection

Solid State Records

March 5, 2021

In my opinion, this album is such a wonderful work. It is an astounding idea to dare to do what they did! They made a piano album! There's more to it, actually.

This twelve-track studio album features acoustic and orchestral reinterpretations of songs from the first ten albums, and one previously unreleased track. Produced by guitarist Jeremiah Scott and featuring cover art by Eliran Kantor, the record replaces the band’s metal instrumentation with piano, strings, and acoustic guitars to focus on melodic arrangements and Ryan Clark's melodic singing.

The tracklist is "My Throat Is an Open Grave," "Dead Flowers," "The Heart of a Graveyard," and the new song "Praise the Void." Then it continues with: "Blood in the Tears," "Loneliness," "I Am a Stone," "I Will Fail You," "Deteriorate," "Carry Me Down," "The Tide Began to Rise," and "My Heartstrings Come Undone."

The album is a type of retrospective, through a somber, mid-tempo format, without the use of distorted guitars or high-tempo percussion. They brought in Joanna Ott to handle the piano and keyboard duties. It is a full studio production with the objective of an authentic sound. In addition to Joanna’s piano work, the lush orchestral layers were arranged and performed by Chris Carmichael, who has worked with artists various artists, including Taylor Swift.

If you have not heard this album, and you like piano, like I do, then you are in for a wonderful, pleasant listening experience.

Demon Hunter "I Am A Stone (Resurrected)" (Live in the Studio)

https://www.facebook.com/demonhunter

"Set Me Free" - original version by The Sweet

In earlier post I shared some classic HEATHEN. Their version of “Set Me Free,” a song originally performed by the British band The Sweet from their 1974 album Sweet Fanny Adams. Here is The Sweet’s version. Isn’t it fun?! Yes, it is!

The Sweet - Set Me Free

Heathen - Set Me Free - Official Music Video

some classic Heathen!

The official music video for "Set Me Free" (cover of The Sweet) from the Heathen album "Breaking The Silence" released in 1987.

Heathen - Set Me Free - Official Music Video

https://www.facebook.com/heathen.official/

HEATHEN - Never A God (Official Video) | Napalm Records

12” Maxi Single Never A God Drops on April 23, 2026. Video Production Credits: Directed, Filmed and Edited by Ty Fox for Fennac Creative. Additional Special Effects / Composition by Joel Morgan. Cast: Featuring Devon Potter as Eve.

HEATHEN about “Never A God”: “We’re going to start this new partnership with Napalm Records off with a bang and give you something new to listen to while we continue to work on the new HEATHEN album. With that in mind, we recorded a couple of classic Bay Area Thrash tracks originally written by other bands that we played with in the early 1990s. The demo collectors out there may have heard these songs before, but they’ll be new to most of you. The first single is ‘Never a God’, originally recorded in demo form (with David White on vocals) by Laughing Dead. So, new record label, new music, new video, 12” Maxi Single pre-order, and a tour with Coroner in North America starting tomorrow. LFG!”

Heathen:

David White – Vocals

Kragen Lum – Guitar

Kyle Edissi – Guitar

Jason Mirza – Bass

Blake Anderson – Drums

HEATHEN - Never A God (Official Video) | Napalm Records

https://www.facebook.com/heathen.official/

Fierce Atmospheres (prog power) - March shows in Indiana and Illinois

The American progressive power metal band Fierce Atmospheres from the state of Illinois has announced some shows in the neighboring state of Indiana and also in their own state of Illinois. Please the picture below. Also, here are a couple of links for you to hear their music!

The Speed Of Dreams by Fierce Atmospheres

The Versailles Records Sessions by FIERCE ATMOSPHERES

https://www.facebook.com/fierceatmospheres

REVIEW: LEAVES' EYES (symphonic-gothic metal)

Leaves' Eyes

Song of Darkness

Reigning Phoenix Music

6 March 2026

All is well with the German/Finnish gothic metal band Leaves' Eyes (2003–present) which, according to Metal Archives, has ten full-length albums and seven previous EPs. Therefore, this is their eighth EP, if I am counting correctly, and it follows the 2024 album Myths of Fate. To me, these songs are direct and easy to get into. The EP has a certain bounce, a certain pep in its step, resulting in a catchy, uptempo vibe. The neo-symphonic gothic metal style is very much in place. There is high, melodic singing and a bit of those good ole extreme vocals for that melodic/extreme contrast. But you know what they say: people believe what they want to believe, and I guess it is the same for music—people hear what they want to hear. With that in mind, I hear the operatic singing as the predominant voice of the music. There are death metal vocals on here, but what I am saying is that, to me, the dominant vibe is the soprano vocals, and I have heard this EP at least ten times, if not twenty. Let's not beat around the bush: fans of soprano singing and gothic metal in general should be pleased with this recording. I know I am. Expect to-the-point and efficient songwriting. They arrive, they get the job done, and they leave. I like it. The current lineup of Leaves' Eyes consists of Elina Siirala (vocals), Alexander Krull (vocals), Florian Ewert (guitar), Luc Gebhardt (guitar), Dominik Prykiel (bass), and Simon Skrlec (drums). This lineup is featured on the band's new EP, which includes the four tracks: "Song of Darkness," "Hall of the Brave," "Until the Last Day," and "Roots Eternal." It is said the lyrics are related to Viking themes, although I am unable to say anything about that because I do not have lyrics.

LEAVES' EYES - Song Of Darkness (Official Music Video)

https://www.facebook.com/leaveseyesofficial

WYTCH HAZEL - "Freedom Battle"

Wytch Hazel is such a fascinating case of a band working for a particularly outstanding aesthetic: authentically-made, hand-crafted, genuine classic heavy metal (or vintage heavy metal, proto heavy metal, classic hard rock, if you will) big on melody and on lyrics to raise the spiritual condition of the listener. The 2012 debut EP The Truth made some people do a double take and begin to glimpse that Wytch Hazel is something very different.

"Freedom Battle" opens the 2016 full-length called Prelude. From the start, there's just something special about the sound of Wytch Hazel guitar melodies, the classic and classy, just an overall pleasing sound, with a pinch of melancholy woven into the vibe.

Wytch Hazel

Prelude

Bad Omen Records

April 22nd, 2016

1. Freedom Battle 05:09

2. Fight 03:56

3. Mighty King 04:01

4. More than Conquerors 04:42

5. Psalm 04:53

6. Prelude 04:17

7. He Shall Reign 04:56

8. Dark Ages 04:06

9. Wytch Hazel 04:34

10. We Will Be Strong 05:59

total time 46:33

To me, Wytch Hazel is a bit of a mystery; it is often difficult for me to pinpoint exactly how they capture such a specific sound, but it works so well. In my view, the production on the first track, "Freedom Battle," is such a good presentation of what's going on. It's not the normal mechanized sound of contemporary rock and metal. When I hear it, the song stands out because of the guitar-led feel of classic melodies—maybe a bit folky, or maybe it's a sense of "old, old" melodies—rather than loudness or aggression. I like the uniquely melodic and gentle singing. There is a certain liturgical tone that sets the band apart, and I think they are doing things with melody that are different and classic at the same time.

How about that scream right before the guitar solo! How does it manage to be so high, and fit in so well, and not sound annoying? I don't know, but it works. The solo is rather nice, of course. Top-notch, but man, there is melody all over, and as the song goes towards the end, the melodies get extended and emphasized. So good.

Lyrically, there is no mistaking the band: "There’s a battle left to fight, it’s for freedom. I will fight with all my might, to live in freedom." This freedom comes for the soul that is "filled with the Holy Ghost" and that is "armed with freedom, truth and with light."

And with that, things got underway! When I get my act together, I will come back to the next song, "Fight," which I have been listening to, but the truth is I am not ready to go into it right now.

Prelude by Wytch Hazel

Wytch Hazel - Freedom Battle, LIVE @ The Platform, Morecambe, 07.02.2023

Wytch Hazel - Freedom Battle (acoustic version)

Freedom Battle - Wytch Hazel (Lyric Video)

this Saturday - TRIP THE WIRE at Tony V's Garage in Everett, Washington, USA

Trip The Wire's second album, "II" is set to land in the "hard copy" realm for all of you physical media collectors! Yup, CDs! We will also have digital downloads available for sale. BUT those options will be the ONLY way you can hear the entire album for a while as we'll just be trickling out the next 8 songs on streaming platforms over the next several months. (There are already 5 singles available to stream! Go listen!)

We're very excited about and proud of this album and cannot wait to share it with you! In fact, we'll be playing the album from front to back on this night, and we want you to come out and celebrate with us! Doors 8

Music 9

$15 DOS

Non-Jovi, an awesome Bon Jovi tribute (and friends of ours) will be throwing down after our set. It's gonna be a BLAST! Come hang with us!

Trip The Wire - "Hurricane" (Official Music Video)

https://www.facebook.com/tripthewire

In Memory of Ronnie MONTROSE (1947-2012)

Ronald Douglas Montrose (November 29, 1947 – March 3, 2012)

On March 3, 2012, the heavy metal world lost the iconic Ronnie Montrose at age 64 following a five-year battle with prostate cancer. Born in Denver, Colorado, Montrose first established his pedigree playing on Van Morrison's 1971 classic Tupelo Honey and the Edgar Winter Group’s 1972 hit They Only Come Out at Night. However, he achieved true immortality in 1973 by forming Montrose alongside a young Sammy Hagar. Their self-titled 1973 debut, Montrose, is a great, great, legendary, high-voltage blueprint for American 1970s heavy metal. Its influence is immeasurable; it served as the primary sonic foundation for Van Halen and has been cited as a major inspiration by heavyweights like Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, and Mötley Crüe. Following the landmark success of that debut and its follow-up Paper Money, Montrose explored diverse musical landscapes through his solo work and his band Gamma, which released four albums between 1979 and 2000. Despite taking time off after his 2007 diagnosis to focus on his health, his status as a guitar pioneer and architect of the stadium-rock sound remains undisputed. One final word about the 1973 album. I may be wrong because I am not an expert, but in my experience this album feels like the first album in which we have a new sound in the 1970s heavy metal guitars. Before this album the heavy metal hard rock sound, whether British, American, German or Canadian, was a type of hard blues, based on the blues. But this album right here, in my experience (which could be inaccurate because I do not know for a fact), the guitar sound no longer sounds like the blues. The blues have, for all practical purposes, been taken out, and you can't really hear it big time anymore. It sounds different. It is the actual sound of what will be the standard sound for heavy metal music later on in the 1970s and the 1980s. If you know of an album with a more heavy metal sound before this one, feel free to name it below, and I will be excited to listen to it! Your recommendation needs to be before October 17, 1973: that's the release date, according to Wikipedia, for the Montrose debut album. Prove me wrong! I do not mind be wrong. I do not mind be wrong. Let's have an argument!

Montrose - Space Station #5

Montrose - Rock the Nation

Artizan (melodic heavy metal) - wonderful health and new album update

Great news from ARTIZAN!

Artizan is a melodic power metal band from Jacksonville, Florida, formed in 2008. The group was founded by drummer Ty Tammeus, who wanted high-quality songwriting and also high-quality singing. They feature great musicianship and great singing by Tom Braden.

The band's current lineup consists of Tom Braden on vocals, Ty Tammeus on drums, Shamus McConney and Bill Staley on guitars, and Jon Jennings on bass. Over the years, the group has collaborated with several notable figures in the metal genre. Their second album featured guest vocals from Matt Barlow (ex-Iced Earth), and their 2018 release included contributions from Harry "The Tyrant" Conklin of Jag Panzer.

Artizan’s discography includes four full-length studio albums, beginning with their debut, Curse of the Artizan, released in 2011. This was followed by Ancestral Energy in 2013 and a sci-fi-themed concept album titled The Furthest Reaches in 2015. Their most recent full-length effort, Demon Rider, was released in 2018. They also have a self-titled EP in 2009 and the single The Hangman in 2018.

Health update posted on Facebook on March 1, 2026.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: ARTIZAN fans and friends, we are pleased to announce that Artizan vocalist, Tom Braden, has fully recovered from the severe cardiac event he suffered at the beginning of November. His DR's were astounded that there was no damage to his heart. His surgeon implanted a cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), a device that monitors heart rhythms and delivers an electric shock to "kick start" or reset the heart during dangerous arrhythmias or cardiac arrest. Tom will be tracking all vocals for the forthcoming album 'The Furthest Reaches Part 2: The Gaia Effect' this spring at Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Fl, with legendary producer Jim Morris at the helm.

Artizan - Soldiers Of Light (Official Lyric Video)

Soldiers of Light from the album 'Demon Rider' 2018 Artizan Limited Edition Vinyl and CD at Artizanmetal.com

https://www.facebook.com/artizanmetal

Arallu - Dingir Xul - black metal from Israel

This is the first song from the most recent ARALLU (Israel) album: DMoon - From The Ancient World - Israeli oriental black metal, released on October 31, 2025.

Arallu - Dingir Xul

INPATHOS - "Apparitions" (Official Video) (melodic death metal)

Inpathos is a melodic death metal band based in Bellingham, Washington, USA known for incorporating atmospheric and progressive elements into their sound. The band is a frequent performer at regional venues like The Shakedown, contributing to the connectivity between the underground metal scenes of Bellingham and Seattle.

INPATHOS - "Apparitions" (Official Video)

https://www.facebook.com/InpathosBand/

Iranian metal CONFESS and Ayatollah Khamenei

President Donald Trump's objective of getting of rid of the current leadership in Iran has made Iranian metal musicians wonder about the future of Iran and also the future of metal music by Iranian musicians in Iran and outside.

Here is an interesting example.

On February 1, 2026 the Iranian vocalist and guitarist for the band Confess, Nikan "Siyanor" Khosravi, who now lives in Norway, wrote his thoughts about the events taking place in Iran now, and in particular after the death of the dictator Ayatollah Khamenei. Confess is the band that was the subject of one of the episodes of the Hulu documentary series "Into the Void: Life, Death & Heavy Metal." It includes an episode titled "Confess: Iranian Metal Crusade" that documents the history of the Iranian band Confess. The episode focuses on the 2015 arrest of members Nikan Khosravi and Arash Ilkhani by the Revolutionary Guard in Tehran on charges including blasphemy and anti-state propaganda. It details their time in solitary confinement, their subsequent release on bail, and their flight from Iran through Turkey for political asylum in Norway. The documentary highlights the legal and physical risks associated with performing heavy metal in Iran and tracks the band's transition to recording and performing as political exiles.

This is what he wrote:

"I’m sitting here trying to write something that makes sense of all this, but it’s harder than I expected. So instead, I’m just writing the first things that come to mind.

I’ve always thought about this day. I’ve tried to picture it. I imagined it would feel surreal, but what surprises me most is how ordinary it feels. Don’t get me wrong, it is a huge deal. It might be hard to fully understand, especially for Westerners, but Ali Khamenei was always present in Iranian life. Always on TV, in our schoolbooks, his portrait hanging in classrooms, shops, airports, malls, billboards… that constant 'big brother' presence.

Now that he’s gone, it feels like time has paused for a moment. This is a man tied to the shattered dreams and broken hopes of generations. A man connected to deaths, exile, and countless separations for 36 years. He should have been held accountable for his crimes against humanity, and it’s hard to accept that he never faced justice.

I want to believe this is the beginning of a new era. I feel hope. I feel happiness. But there’s also an anxiety I can’t quite explain. No one really knows what happens next. No one knows what will come out of this. I’m worried about the future of my people and my country.

Now Khamenei is gone, but his regime is not. Not yet. And I hope this moment doesn’t turn into chaos, like what we’ve seen in the region before when dictators fall. We have to stay vigilant, to make sure this doesn’t just become a replacement. The same system with a new face, maybe even more calculated.

I congratulate all Iranians, from every walk of life. More than anything, I wish I were home to witness this moment in person.

This is history we are living through."

Confess - I'm Your God Now (HD) Free Confess

Happy Anniversary to DEMON HUNTER's Peace!

Demon Hunter

Peace

March 1, 2019

Solid State

1. More Than Bones 4:15

2. I Don't Believe You 4:48

3. Loneliness 5:15

4. Peace 4:18

5. When the Devil Come 4:41

6. Time Only Takes 4:38

7. Two Ways 4:07

8. Recuse Myself 5:00

9. Bet My Life 4:16

10. Fear Is Not My Guide 4:47

total time: 46:06

Peace is the tenth studio album by Demon Hunter. Released by Solid State Records on March 1, 2019, it arrived as a simultaneous double-release alongside its twin album War. Peace is more on the softer, more melodic sound. Wikipedia says that the ambitious release was well-received by critics and that Loudwire specifically honored both War and Peace by naming them together as one of the 50 best metal albums of 2019.

Here are two songs that I like, but check out the entire album: If you have not heard Peace, you're in for a treat!

Demon Hunter "More Than Bones" (Official Music Video)

Demon Hunter "Loneliness" (Listening Video)

Happy Anniversary to DEMON HUNTER's War!

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Happy Anniversary to ICED EARTH's Burnt Offerings!

Iced Earth

Burnt Offerings

March 1st, 1995

Century Media Records

1. Burnt Offerings 07:22

2. Last December 03:23

3. Diary 06:13

4. Brainwashed 05:22

5. Burning Oasis 05:59

6. Creator Failure 06:00

7. The Pierced Spirit 01:54

8. Dante's Inferno 16:25

total time 52:38

To me, the themes and the way Burnt Offerings feels like a concept album make it a great example of progressive, melodic thrash. It’s not just one thrash song after another; it has a lot of variety that really pays off once you give it a few listens and let it grow on you. It is definitely more complex and progressive than the two classics that came before it, and it has quiet moments. Even though it’s a more difficult listen than basic heavy metal, it’s still an awesome Iced Earth record! It might get overshadowed by their earlier hits, but I find the way the songs are built to be really entertaining. I know Jon Schaffer is a perfectionist and is super critical of his own work, and has some negative feelings about this album and the era of the band around these years, but I still see a ton of value in this album. To me, this progressive, melodic thrash metal. It’s Iced Earth, c'mon!

Iced Earth - Last December