David Byron was the voice of Uriah Heep during the foundational and influential 1970s period. He sang on ten of the band's most influential and beloved albums. His albums with Uriah Heep began with Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble (1970) and the progressive Salisbury (1971) and the more driving Look at Yourself (1971). There is also great fantasy metal duo of Demons and Wizards (1972) and The Magician's Birthday (1972). He sang on Sweet Freedom (1973), Wonderworld (1974), and Return to Fantasy (1975). His sang last on High and Mighty (1976). He also sang on the 1973 double-live album, Uriah Heep Live.
For American fans of 1970s heavy metal, classic rock and hard rock - Uriah Heep is not as well known as the famous acts like Led Zeppelin, Boston, Kiss, Deep Purple or Black Sabbath, but Uriah Heep is top-quality music and has a deep, deep discography for fans to dive into.
Below is the Wikipedia article on David, and also Martin's Popoff biography of the band from the band's website, and below that, some songs for you to hear. I'm choosing tracks for fans who may not be very familiar with Uriah Heep. Believe me, there is so much, much, much more to Uriah Heep than these songs. If you like 1970s heavy metal, and you have not given Uriah Heep a real chance, here is my invitation to you!
WIKIPEDIA: David Garrick, better known by his stage name David Byron, was a British singer who was best known in the early 1970s as the original lead vocalist of the rock band Uriah Heep. Byron possessed a powerful operatic voice and exuded a flamboyant stage presence.
Early life (1947–1969): David Garrick was born in Essex to David James Garrick and Rosetta Caroline Florence Purkis, who wed in the late 1930s. His father worked as a compositor, type-setting for a London based printing firm called Odhams Press. He enrolled into Normanhurst Infant School in 1952.
Byron was educated at Forest School, Walthamstow, from 1958 to 1964, where, as a popular pupil, he excelled at sports and was in the school's 1st eleven football team. From the mid-1960s to early 1970s, he did session work for a company called Avenue Recordings, singing lead and backing vocals (occasionally along with Mick Box on guitar and Paul Newton on bass). These were cover versions of Top 20 hits and were released on EPs and LPs.
In a 1973 interview, Byron said: "I started singing at the age of five. My mother was singing in a jazz band. My whole family was into music. Everybody played an instrument." His first venture into professional music was with an Epping-based semi-pro band called The Stalkers, which also featured Box. Byron and Box then teamed up to form the band Spice (1967–1969), which also featured Newton on bass and Alex Napier on drums. Before settling on the name Spice, other names were considered, including 'The Play'. A handful of acetates exist of unreleased tracks recorded at the time and credited to 'The Play'.
The band gigged extensively locally under the management of Paul Newton's father and they secured a recording deal with United Artists, which issued the band's only single, "What About The Music/In Love." Newton's father's wife also convinced David to change his surname to Byron.
Deciding that Spice's sound needed keyboards, they recruited keyboardist/guitarist/singer/songwriter Ken Hensley, who was Newton's bandmate in The Gods. During this time, Byron renamed the band Uriah Heep from the Charles Dickens novel David Copperfield.
With Uriah Heep (1969–1976): Byron sang on 10 Uriah Heep albums: Very 'Eavy, Very 'Umble, Salisbury, Look at Yourself, Demons and Wizards, The Magician's Birthday, Live, Sweet Freedom, Wonderworld, Return To Fantasy, and High and Mighty. In 1975, Byron released his first solo album, Take No Prisoners, which also featured fellow Heep members Box, Hensley and Lee Kerslake. Byron also gained a reputation for hard drinking, which eventually led to him being sacked from Uriah Heep at the end of a Spanish tour in July 1976.
Hensley said at the time, "David was one of those classic people who couldn't face up to the fact that things were wrong and he looked for solace in a bottle." Ahead of his dismissal, Uriah Heep had secured John Lawton as replacement singer. Their manager at the time, Gerry Bron, said Byron had been released in "the best interest of the group".
Later career (1976–1984): Byron recorded three solo albums: Take No Prisoners in 1975, Baby Faced Killer in 1978, and That Was Only Yesterday, which was recorded in 1984, one year before his death. During this period, Byron teamed up with former Colosseum / Humble Pie guitarist Clem Clempson and former Wings drummer Geoff Britton to form Rough Diamond. They recorded one self-titled LP for Island Records in March 1977. The album sold poorly and Byron quit.
Next, Byron got together with guitarist Robin George to form The Byron Band, which was signed to Creole Records and debuted with the single "Every Inch of the Way"/"Routine". This was followed by the single "Never Say Die"/"Tired Eyes", before the release of the 1981 album On the Rocks. However, as with his previous band Rough Diamond, neither critical nor commercial acclaim was forthcoming.
Box and Trevor Bolder invited Byron to re-join Uriah Heep in 1981, after Ken Hensley had left, but Byron refused. Lost and Found is a double album that included demos and live recordings by the Byron Band, which spanned from 1980 to 1982.
Death and legacy: Byron died of alcohol-related complications, including liver disease and seizures, at his home in Berkshire on 28 February 1985. On BBC Radio's The Friday Rock Show, Tommy Vance played "July Morning" in tribute.
On the Equator tour, around the time of Byron's death, Uriah Heep dedicated "The Wizard" to him. There were also tributes to him and deceased bassist Gary Thain on the 1998 album Sonic Origami. The opening track, "Between Two Worlds", is dedicated to David Byron and Gary Thain, both members of Uriah Heep who died at a young age.
BY MARTIN POPOFF
A Brief Biography
Among venerable UK rock institutions, with Black Sabbath and Jethro Tull dispersing, we are, perhaps, really, down to just Deep Purple, Yes and Uriah Heep left to uphold the tradition of quality original progressive hard rock forged at the very beginning of a golden era for this music, late ‘60s into the nexus year that was 1970.
At that crossroads, along with Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, Uriah Heep helped invent a decorative and uniquely British form of heavy metal with their debut album, Very ‘Eavy, Very ‘Umble. The record was offered as a self-titled on American shores, but whatever the titling, it was historically massive in the invention of a music format that would rule the ‘70s and only intensify in the ‘80s.
It is from those roots, with classic, crucial slabs of nascent metal such as “Gypsy,” “Bird of Prey” and “Walking in Your Shadow,” that Uriah Heep began their ascendance both at home and in the US, culminating in their most enduring works, Demons and Wizards, The Magician’s Birthday and Sweet Freedom, all of which went gold in the States, entering the Billboard Top 40, ensuring years of concert dominance for the band throughout the ‘70s.
Furthermore, Uriah Heep have been responsible for the most elevated and intelligent use of vocals in a heavy metal context amongst the major bands inventing the genre in the 1970s. It is for this reason Heep were coined the Beach Boys of Heavy Metal, and their influence is there for all to see in other bands including the likes of Sweet and Queen. The band were also one of the forerunners with respect to the integration of Hammond organ, along with Mick’s signature wah-wah guitar, a combination that became the template for their sound.
Success has followed the forging of such an audacious formula. Across 25 studio albums, along with myriad live releases and compilations, Uriah Heep has managed to sell 40 million records worldwide, four million of those in the US. Impressive American numbers, but that leaves 36 million records to be sold in the rest of the world, underscoring the fact that Uriah Heep have become, through their relentless dedication to touring, a truly global band, with particular success in Germany, Scandinavia, Japan, Eastern Europe and Russia, where they were the first Western rock band to play live in Moscow in December 1987 to 180,000 people. Through their success as rock ‘n’ roll pioneers, this enabled other bands to follow in their wake and Russia is now part of every band’s touring schedule.
What is perhaps even more admirable than the love for the band across the globe has been the quality and consistency of Heep’s music across a myriad of personnel changes, some of them potentially critical, beginning with the loss of charismatic vocalist David Byron after the band’s ninth studio album, High and Mighty, issued in June 1976.
Indeed, some of these personnel shuffles might have been responsible for a fallow period in the late ‘70s, the accepted nadir in the narrative being 1980’s Conquest record. But in 1982, the band stormed back (as they would again in 1995) with a classic of British heavy metal called Abominog, which found the band back where they belong, namely in the American Top 40. This album featured Peter Goalby on vocals. and in the annals of Uriah Heep history, this record, a conquering document released smack in the thick of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, is revered by Heep fans on par with such classics as 1971’s Look at Yourself and 1972’s Demons and Wizards, even if the band’s music had been overhauled and supercharged for a new decade. Similarly, stadium-rocking records Head First, issued in 1983, and Equator, issued two years later, capped off this exciting era for the band.
As a way of contextualizing the band’s extensive history, the well regarded FM-friendly Peter Goalby years might be considered the third era of Heep’s extensive and productive history. As recap, one might frame the first era of the band as encompassing the classic David Byron years along with the productive co-writing stewardship of Ken Hensley, culminating in 1973’s double Live album, sent to #37 on the US charts with the help of timeless Heep classics like “Sunrise,” “Sweet Lorraine,” “Circle of Hands, epic masterwerk “July Morning” and smash hits “Easy Livin’” and “Love Machine,” both examples of the band’s mastery of the heavy metal shuffle.
Following this, the second era of the band might be said to encompass the years 1974 to 1981. Although containing a few David Byron-fronted albums, this time period features underrated records like Firefly and Fallen Angel, along with 1977’s Innocent Victim, which sold over a million copies in Germany alone. Each of these featured ex-Lucifer Friend singer John Lawton on vocals, and each helped build and maintain the band’s legacy of intensely professional harmonies across songs rife with joyous and even spiritual melody.
Yet despite Uriah Heep’s esteemed place in rock history being assured through the likes of Demons and Wizards and The Magician’s Birthday alone, the most inspiring chapter of the Uriah Heep saga must surely be that of the band’s fourth era, marked by keyboardist Phil Lanzon joining in 1986 followed by vocalist Bernie Shaw in 1987. Both Phil and Bernie are still in the band to this day, their first recording as part of the fold being Live in Moscow, celebrating Heep as the first western rock band to be invited to play in Russia. This was followed by a studio album called Raging Silence which was the start of the Box/Lanzon writing partnership.
Indeed, given the massive commercial status of Uriah Heep in the ‘70s, along with the considerable attention afforded the guys in the early ‘80s, it’s become a bit of an urban myth that this is a band plagued by lineup changes. The fact of the matter is that for over 30 years, from 1986 to 2007, Uriah Heep had consisted of patriarch Mick Box on lead guitars, Bernie Shaw on vocals, long-time member Lee Kerslake on drums, Trevor Bolder on bass and Phil Lanzon keyboards.
It is only with the retirement of Lee Kerslake through ill health and the death of Trevor Bolder that the band found it necessary to add new blood. Russell Gilbrook auditioned to become Heep’s drummer, bringing along an insane level of energy that propels each reconsidered Heep classic from the bottom up, while driving the new songs with a vitality rare among venerable heritage acts.
After the death of Trevor Bolder, Dave Rimmer came along and when he auditioned, the guys quickly found that he was the missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle. A formidable rhythm section was born.
And it hasn’t been that this 30-plus year “fourth phase” for the band has been any sort of victory lap. Admired and respected as fans have been for the consistency and high quality of the long-standing Uriah Heep lineup over these last three decades in the live environment, the band has also consistently put out excellent new music faithful to storied Heep trademarks such as heaviness, use of Hammond, the challenge of the shuffle, and the always essential use of wah-wah when Mick is inclined to tear off one of his life-affirming guitar solos.
Indeed, if through the 1990s, Uriah Heep had worked at a relaxed pace, in the 2000s they’ve issued fully four albums of completely new music—Wake the Sleeper, Into the Wild, Outsider and finally, Living the Dream, the latter of which ardent Heep watchers are deeming something of a masterpiece. This astonishing run, however, really begins with the highly regarded Sea of Light from 1995, a fan favourite that finds the songwriting team of Box and Lanzon yielding huge creative returns. Up into 2014’s Outsider, on which the two co-write every song, the band were rewarded with a late-period hit in “One Minute,” a huge crowd-pleaser at all live shows across the globe.
And through all this rich history, in the wings—or as parallel story lines as it were—Uriah Heep have conducted a thriving “Official Bootleg Series.” As well, the guys celebrated their 40th anniversary with a re-recordings album called Celebration, followed by a tour comprising 250 shows all over the world (60 different countries, in fact).
Along the winding road, Uriah Heep have had ex-members die (most notably Gary Thain, David Byron, Trevor Bolder and recently John Wetton), although on a lighter note, they’ve had ex-members—Lee Kerslake and Bob Daisley—that at one time were fully half of the classic Ozzy Osbourne Blizzard of Ozz band! Even earlier than that they had Kiss, ZZ Top, Foreigner and Rush as support bands, cherished memories which gave those bands their first break, all of them speaking fondly of their time with Mick and the boys.
In January of 2018, the band entered Chapel Studios in England with producer Jay Ruston (Stone Sour, Anthrax, Steel Panther) and recorded their latest offering, Living the Dream. The album was released worldwide in late 2018 on Frontiers Records. An extensive world tour was immediately underway to support the release and the band are still on the road with the record, indicative of the pride the guys feel with this release. “Working with Jay was amazing,” reflects Mick. “He totally understood what we were going for and delivered big time. We wanted a Heep album that the band and the fans would be proud of, and with Jay at the helm, we have delivered that.” Bernie calls Living the Dream, “a full-blown, ‘rockin’ Uriah Heep record. All the traits that made Heep famous in the past are here. Passion, power, harmony and substance… these are Heep trademarks you’ll get from the first riff.”
The point of all this is that even now, 50 years after the band’s inception, the sun seems to be shining down upon Mick Box and Uriah Heep. Fact is, Heep are one of only a small clutch of heritage acts that are doing everything a band must do to be considered vital, namely touring worldwide and regularly recording and releasing high quality, exquisitely produced full-length records that continue to capture their fan base’s imagination. If there’s another band born in 1969 that has stayed as engaged with their fans as Heep, all the power to them. But for Mick Box, music has never been a competition—him an’ Heep will keep spreading their many messages of positivity all over the world and gaining new fans along the way. Their songs and music have stood the test of time, and with even more new songs on the horizon the mighty Heep are as strong and powerful as ever.
Uriah Heep Live in Concert 1974 (Remastered)
Uriah Heep - Easy Living
Uriah Heep - Look At Yourself
David Earl Prichard (November 27, 1963 - February 28, 1990)
Dave was the lead guitarist and a primary songwriter for the American heavy metal band Armored Saint from its formation in 1982 until his death in 1990. Dave (and fellow guitarist Phil Sandoval) played guitar on the band's 1983 self-titled EP and on the debut full-length album March of the Saint (1984).
After Phil's temporary departure, Dave was the sole guitarist for Armored Saint. You can hear Dave on guitars on the wonderful album Delirious Nomad (1985) and then also on Raising Fear (1987). Although he passed away from leukemia before the recording of the 1991 album Symbol of Salvation, he had an important part in the creation of that album, having composed the songs during the 1988–1989 demo sessions. His original 4-track demo solo was posthumously incorporated into the song "Tainted Past," and the album is dedicated to Dave.
Of course, Armored Saint has continued after Dave, and nowadays they enjoy a great reputation as elder statesmen of heavy metal music. In order to get to this point, Armored Saint built their foundation and sound throughout the 1980s, and Dave was an incredibly important component of the sound of Armored Saint. In addition, he remains important to the band on a personal level because Armored Saint was a band formed by young men who were friends and family, and they had known each other from a very young age, going as far back as elementary school and middle school.
Below you will find a couple of interesting articles about Dave and Armored Saint. Then, after that, you will find some classic Armored Saint music, and if you would like to see the man himself playing guitar live, check out the video of the band performing live!
METAL FORCES
ARMORED SAINT Guitarist David Prichard Dies Aged 26
February 28th, 1990
David Prichard, guitarist for Los Angeles, California-based heavy metal band Armored Saint, died on February 28th, 1990 following a battle with leukaemia. Prichard was 26 years of age.
Born November 27th, 1963, David Earl Prichard attended South Pasadena High School in South Pasadena, California. There, Prichard would co-found Armored Saint in 1982. Early tours saw the group open for acts like Metallica, Saxon, Michael Schenker Group, WASP, and Whitesnake. A self-titled EP arrived in 1983 through Metal Blade. Signing an album contract with Chrysalis Records, Armored Saint released the following trio of platters; March Of The Saint (1984), Delirious Nomad (1985), and Raising Fear (1987). The quartet subsequently returned to the Metal Blade label, issuing 1988 live opus Saints Will Conquer.
Fourth full-length Symbol Of Salvation arrived in 1991, a year following the man’s passing. Produced by Dave Jerden, the majority of the music for the outing had been written by Prichard prior to his death. The first guitar solo on the track ‘Tainted Past’ was taken from a 1989 demo Prichard had recorded. 1991 video release A Trip Thru’ Red Times additionally paid tribute, featuring various live performance clips.
Prichard was survived by younger brothers Kenny and Robbie.
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excerpt from the publication LOUDER SOUND
Last Train Home by Armored Saint: the story behind the song - Louder
Nov 29, 2025
By Dom Lawson (Metal Hammer, Classic Rock) published 29 November 2025
“We got home and we officially got dropped, so we didn’t have a label,” John shrugs. “That was the moment when we truly started saying, ‘Right, forget it, we’re just going to write songs and we’re not going to care about anything. We’re just gonna write!’ We weren’t on a label so why we would we look for a particular style, when we don’t know what the future holds anyway? So we started writing, and right after that was when we found out about Dave’s illness with leukaemia.”
Not just an insanely gifted lead guitarist but, as Bush notes, the most natural leader in Armored Saint at the time, Dave Prichard had discovered that he had leukaemia after taking a blood test to assess his suitability for a powerful acne medication.
“That was a death sentence in the 80s, it was a pretty severe form of cancer,” John says. “They’ve made a lot of strides with leukaemia now, but back then it was pretty bad. So his illness, the band being dropped and our whole future being so uncertain, that was all what propelled us towards just writing songs and not worrying if something was totally out of the box compared to what Armored Saint usually did. And that’s where songs like Last Train Home came from.”
Dave Prichard passed away on February 28, 1990, midway through writing sessions for the new Armored Saint album. The band took several months to mourn their friend and to work out exactly how to proceed, but it soon became apparent that the sheer strength of the material that they had been writing compelled them to move forward and make a new album. With Gonzo’s brother (and original member) Phil rejoining the band on rhythm guitar, the retooled Armored Saint had kept things very much in the family. Significantly, the band’s line-up remains exactly the same today.
Armored Saint - Tainted Past
Armored Saint - Last Train Home (Live at Wacken Open Air)
Armored Saint – Hell On Wheels | Headbangers Ball MTV (1987 Full Concert) | Remastered
new from Dreams of Gray
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Please enjoy the first Dreams of Gray video ever! It is for "Across the Endless Sea." This song holds special meaning to me, not only because of the powerful themes it explores but also because it is my favorite song I've written so far. I combined my favorite elements from different metal genres to create a sound that I truly enjoy. We also chose to film at some places that hold important significance for me and many in Chicago. Enjoy the video and make sure to check out the rest of the EP!
Music and lyrics: Luis Rivera
Vocals/ Guitars: Luis Rivera
Bass: Maria Kosma
Drums: Scott Elliott
Mixed and Mastered by Scott Elliot, Chernobyl Audio
Dreams Of Gray Across the Endless Sea Video
https://dreamsofgray.bandcamp.com/
What does the thrash of HIRAX sound like on a boat?! Katon W. De Pena took his thrashing squad on the boat of the metal music.
The boys are sounding loud and good. When thrash takes to the sea, come sail away with Hirax.
I’m liking this footage π
Information from YouTube: Thrash metal pioneers Hirax perform “Hellion Rising” live at 70,000 Tons of Metal 2026, the world-famous heavy metal cruise festival. Recorded live aboard the 70K Tons cruise ship, this performance captures classic American thrash metal energy in front of a packed international metal audience.
Hirax – Hellion Rising – Live on 70,000 Tons of Metal 2026 (HD)
https://www.facebook.com/HIRAXOfficial
Seattle’s Hellslaught is primal black thrashing metal: the riffs fly left and right, relentless drumming and the vocals that make rats run away in fear!
Check out this song, and form a mosh pit where you are, whether in the cereal isle at Safeway or somewhere in a bar in Tacoma, Washington, or walking your dog in the park in Helsinki
Hellslaught - Blood Upon The Eastern Throne Live - 1.31.25
https://hellslaught.bandcamp.com/music
Trip the Wire show in Everett at Tony Vs Garage - Saturday March 7
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ABOUT THIS EVENT: 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!
Never Enough - Trip the Wire Live at Tony V’s Garage 2/12/2022
https://www.facebook.com/tripthewire/
August Burns Red has released a new single called "Behemoth" and they are back on Fearless Records.
This is first single from their upcoming tenth studio album - for later release in 2026.
They will also do a North American co-headlining tour with The Amity Affliction this April.
August Burns Red - Behemoth (Official Music Video)
https://agstbrnsrd.ffm.to/abrfacebook
Coburn Pharr sang for the thrash metal band Annihilator on their great 1990 album Never, Neverland. Before Annihilator, he sang for the American heavy metal band Omen on the 1988 album Escape to Nowhere. Below is the Blabbermouth article about Coburn.
Former ANNIHILATOR Singer COBURN PHARR Dead At 62
February 25, 2025
Former ANNIHILATOR vocalist Coburn Pharr has died at the age of 62. Pharr sang on ANNIHILATOR's critically acclaimed and best-selling 1990 release "Never, Neverland", which included such classics as "Road To Ruin", "I Am In Command", "Reduced To Ash" and "Phantasmagoria".
Earlier today (Tuesday, February 25),ANNIHILATOR guitarist and founder Jeff Waters released the following statement via social media: "Sad news in the metal world: ANNIHILATOR's 'Never, Neverland' vocalist, Coburn Pharr, has passed away.
"I won't say anything about the details, as that is the family's business, but I wanted to post this before any misinformation surfaces on the internet.
"Coburn was the singer on our best and biggest record. He had the most unique voice of all our singers, along with Randy Rampage (he also passed, in 2018).
"I had very little contact with Coburn over the years, but was able to get him to play a few songs with us on the 70,000 Tons Of Metal cruise, 2014ish.
"In 2018, I had Coburn over to our house in the UK for a really amazing visit. He had lost his Mom and sister and was eager to hang out and talk music, life and reconnect.
"Attached are 2 pics from that visit in Aug 2018, along with my favorite 2 of he and I, back in the day (1990). Since 2018, we had been discussing him coming back for some festival shows and even a tour... However, he was having struggles with some personal things, demons, etc... and it was clear that he would not be able to do any of it.
"I was really glad to have had that time in 2018 with him. He was going through a terrible time and the thought of doing music again brought back some real hope and life in his eyes and being.
Thoughts to his wife and family.
"Thank you for the music and memories, Coburn.
"Sail away, Coburn: To Never, Neverland."
Pharr last reunited with ANNIHILATOR in January 2015 when he performed with the band on the 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise. Pharr took the microphone for the songs "Reduced To Ash", "The Fun Palace", "I Am In Command", "Road To Ruin" and "Stonewall".
ANNIHILATOR's second album, "Never, Neverland" was re-released twice: in 1998, expanded with three demo tracks; and again in 2003 as a two-disc compilation set along with "Alice In Hell", titled "Alice In Hell/Never Neverland", as part of Roadrunner Records' "Two From The Vault" series.
Omen - Thorn In Your Flesh
Annihilator - The Fun Palace
Iced Earth released their self-titled debut album, Iced Earth, in the United States on February 25th, 1991. While the album originally released in Europe in November 1990, the North American release through Century Media was February 25th, 1991, according to Wikipedia.
This is it!
This is the title track, the opening song, and the name of the band itself!
Iced Earth - Iced Earth
Hesychast (USA) is Eastern Orthodox Christian atmospheric black metal. A commenter on Bandcamp notes: "HESYCHAST play very atmospheric, flowing and melodic black metal, at times even dreamy and with atmospheric elements like Gregorian-like choral chants and untypical instruments. This epic, diverse album is well-suited for constant rotation, as the songs are very interestingly arranged and of a similar quality, never becoming boring." The band says: "Our music is dedicated to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, One in Essence and Undivided, and to our Most Holy Lady—the Theotokos, Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary and to all the Saints."
For Whom We Sing New Troparia
by Hesychast
Warning signs
Suffocating skies
Death, it surrounds
Legion lost behind nation’s walls
Scars of the past resume in the age of law
From the wrong world
Bred by boot and fist
From the wrong world
In spheres of virulence
Poisoned minds
Severing all ties
Threats to betray
Deified myopic visions
Carving out names of the opposed
From the wrong world
Bred by boot and fist
From the wrong world
In spheres of virulence
Unnatural decline
Left to die beneath the cross
Distorted dimensions exacting a price
Refuse without concession pacts
An inferno of delusion
With calloused hands and broken glass
Will to resist the undertow
In spheres of virulence
https://www.facebook.com/fugitivetx
Megadeth: Dave Mustaine, Teemu Mäntysaari, James Lomenzo, Dirk Verbeuren
Today, I may bleed, but tonight you will die
Snatched in your sleep, in the blackest night
You buried the truth under layers of lies
There’s no return, now you’ve crossed the line
Push me, I push you back
Tipping Point
Hiding your secrets out in plain sight
Dead men don’t talk, and bullets don’t lie
Watching the life drain out from your eyes
Crossing my heart, how I hope you will die
Push me, I push you back
Tipping Point
I will invade your mind
Make you fear the sound
Of voices that aren’t there
With no one else around
You try to stop the footsteps
And stop the heart that beats
You will beg for silence
You will pray for peace
You won’t defy me, you won’t deny me, I’m at my tipping point
You won’t define me, you’ll never find me, I’m at my tipping point
Megadeth - Tipping Point (Official Music Video)
Megadeth: Dave Mustaine, Teemu Mäntysaari, James Lomenzo, Dirk Verbeuren
Let There Be Shred
The stage has been lit, get up on your feet
Hearts start to pound; everyone get off your seat
My fingers spontaneously combust into flames
Destroying pretenders, only ashes remain
On the day I was born, a guitar in my hands
The earth started rumbling a thunderous command
To bash and to thrash, to bang my head
To smash my guitar and "Let There Be Shred!"
The amps start to roar, a tsunami of sound
Controlling the air, shaking the ground
Guitars are all screaming, they squeal with delight
Clawing fretboards away at the speed of light
On the day I was born, a guitar in my hands
The earth started rumbling a thunderous command
To bash and to thrash, to bang my head
To smash my guitar and "Let There Be Shred!"
At the end of it all, they are left in my wake
One-by-one they’d fall, one-by-one they’d break
Faster than lightning, a machine gun on meth
Dead on arrival, a guitar beat to death
On the day I was born, a guitar in my hands
The earth started rumbling a thunderous command
To bash and to thrash, to bang my head
To smash my guitar and "Let There Be Shred!"
Metal Archives: "A Moment of Silence is the sophomore full-length album by Israeli band Salem, who play a highly bleak hybrid of death and doom metal. This album was produced by Colin Richardson, known for his high-quality productions with bands such as Carcass, Bolt Thrower, and Fear Factory, just to name a few. As you may have guessed, the album boasts a supreme production, where each instrument has its appropriate place in the mix, and everything sounds tight and precise enough to deliver Salem's aggressive material without any compromises."
Salem
A Moment of Silence
October 1998
1. A Moment of Silence 05:09
2. Winter's Tear 04:23
3. Hourglass 05:15
4. Flames 03:07
5. Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun (Pink Floyd cover) 05:19
6. In Another Dimension 04:29
7. The Worst to Come 04:43
8. An Unwanted Guest 07:03
9. Symbiosis 04:42
10. Eyes to Match a Soul 04:01
11. Who Will Comfort Me Now? 10:59
total time 59:10
Salem (Israel) - A Moment of Silence
https://www.facebook.com/salem.salemband
Noah "Wuv" Bernardo Jr. (born February 24, 1974) is the drummer for nu metal band P.O.D. from 1992 until 2021, and is said to be on hiatus from the band due burnout from years of touring.
P.O.D. - Youth of the Nation (Official Music Video) [HD]
Swedish power metal band EVERMORE will release a new album, their third, on 20 March 2026: Mournbraid. I plan to share some of the new music soon, as I have been listening to the new album.
While we wait for the new album release, here is the song "Forevermore" from their second album from 2023: In Memoriam.
EVERMORE - Forevermore (Official Video)
https://www.facebook.com/EvermoreMetal
Terence HOLLER, the American-Italian vocalist and founding member of the progressive metal band Eldritch, launched HOLLER, to explore a more melodic, classic hard rock and AOR sound.
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ABOUT THE SONG: “Chandelier” is taken from the new Holler album “Next In Line”, released in May 2025 by Scarlet Records – the idea of covering Sia's massive global hit came from the mind of Matteo Chimenti, Holler's keyboardist and main composer. He completely overturned and rewrote the music, minus the vocal line – a real challenge for Terence Holler! The end result is a heavy blues track with a strong impact: a hommage to a great artist & performer, and an amazing ‘new song’ on its own!
Written by Jesse Samuel Shatkin & Sia Kate Isobelle Furler
Originally performed by Sia
Video by Jimmy Burrow
Camera: Jimmy Burrow - Lily Waterfull
Actress/Dancer/Performer: IRA Ubetta
HOLLER
Terence Holler - lead vocals
Denis Chimenti - guitar, backing vocals
Luca Fuligni - guitar, backing vocals
Matteo Chimenti - keyboards, backing vocals
Leonardo Peruzzi - bass, backing vocals
Alex Κ»DemonoidΚΌ Lera - drums
HOLLER - Chandelier (Official Video)
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553825592623
March is fast approaching, and the new LEGIONARY will be here soon!
Legionary
Never-Ending Quest for Purpose
6 March 2026
ABOUT Legionary: Legionary is a melodic death/thrash metal band, that originated in NYC, but now mostly operates out of New Jersey. Legionary once played live regularly, but is currently a one man band headed by mastermind Frank D'Erasmo (Drums/Rhythm Guitar). Frank uses the services of the best metal musicians he can find, and is currently dedicated to just doing studio projects at the moment. Legionary has several releases, mostly EPs, but now has two albums under its belt with this latest release!
LEGIONARY - If the Judges Became the Judged (Official Lyric Video)
Check out this music video for fans of technical thrash/death metal. This EP is going to be released this week!
Unburier
As Time Awaits (EP)
release date: unknown (2025 or 2026)
1.Continuum 4:00
2.Abyssal Uncertainty 5:29
3.Survive the Vermin 4:59
About UNBURIER:
Hailing from the south of England, UNBURIER stormed onto the death metal scene in the summer of 2022 with their debut EP Twisted Existence. The EP showcased the band's undeniable technical abilities, in addition to their raw and harrowing sound. In 2024, UNBURIER returned with their follow-up EP, Nebulous, on which the band refined their songwriting and technical prowess. On this release, the band ventured even deeper into the realms of their death metal influences, among which they count DEATH, NECROPHAGIST, and REVOCATION.
Having conquered stages alongside the likes of SANGUISUGABOGG, CRYPTA, and PARTY CANNON, as well as making notable appearances at Bloodstock Open Air and Incineration Festival, UNBURIER continues to carve a path alongside giants of the death metal genre. Their upcoming third EP, As Time Awaits, sees UNBURIER blending old- and new-school death metal styles with technicality, hooks, and razor-sharp songwriting. Carrying the torch of the classic death metal sound into a new age, As Time Awaits is certain to enthrall longtime fans of the genre.
Unburier - Survive the Vermin (Official Video)
Survive the Vermin
by Unburier
Unburier- Nebulous
https://www.facebook.com/unburierband/
Check out this music video from the long-running melodic extreme metal band Vreid from Norway. According to the album list on Metal Archives, this new one will be their tenth album; the band has been active for more than twenty years now, having started in 2004.
I have been enjoying the entire album, and I can't wait for it to be out so that you can hear it, too. It's a good mix of melodic black metal with other elements like different moods; sometimes with a bit of a rock and roll feeling, sometimes a bit more atmospheric, or featuring some super melodic moments and even some melodic singing in places.
The album is done really well, and it's nice to hear an experienced, tested, and skilled band really go for it. They’ve put all twenty, nay, thirty—years of experience (due to Vreid's connection to the previous band Windir) into an album for a very enjoyable listening experience.
By the way, Vreid may be known as part of the Norwegian black metal history, but you can also find tons of melody and quite a bit of heavy metal tradition. It isn't just copy-cat, retro borrowing, but more like a retooling of those vibes into the Vreid aesthetic. To me, it all sounds like Vreid, but not in a strict, stiff-necked sense, but in a rather expansive sound within the Vreid framework.
Vreid
The Skies Turn Black
Indie Recordings
6 March 2026
Vreid - From These Woods (Official Music Video)
https://www.facebook.com/vreidofficial
Since 2005 Dani LΓΆble has been the drummer for legendary power metal foundational fathers Helloween.
In my opinion, in the two decades with Helloween, Dani has proven to be a remarkable trouper, a workhorse, able to adapt to the band's changing visions and goals from album to album and through the big, big personnel changes. He is now the longest-tenured drummer of the band, the other two being, of course, the legendary Ingo Schwichtenberg (RIP 1965–1995) from 1983–1993, and the great Uli Kusch from 1994–2001.
Since joining the band in 2005, Metal Archives shows that Dani has been very busy, making his recording debut on the Mrs. God single and the ambitious Keeper of the Seven Keys - The Legacy album. His extensive discography with the power metal legends spans from Gambling with the Devil, 7 Sinners, Straight Out of Hell, and My God-Given Right, to the celebratory Unarmed anniversary album. He has been a vital part of the band’s "Pumpkins United" era, performing on the massive 2021 self-titled Helloween album and the 2025 release Giants & Monsters.
Dani’s work is also found on singles, EPs, and live documents, ranging from early hits like Light the Universe and As Long as I Fall to more recent anthems like Skyfall, Best Time, and Universe (Gravity for Hearts). His live performances are on releases such as Live in Sao Paulo, United Alive in Madrid, and Live at Budokan audio and video sets, and on massive compilations like United Forces and the 40th-anniversary March of Time or high-energy EPs like The Game Is On, Dani has solidified his legacy.
Before Helloween, Dani LΓΆble spent over a decade on various European metal acts, beginning in the early 1990s with Salvation, where he was credited as "Nanes" on the 1992 release From Where. Throughout the mid-to-late 90s, he maintained a busy schedule with HΓΆllenhunde, contributing to the 1997 EP Alptraum, and simultaneously performing with Glenmore and Element 58. His work with Rawhead Rexx in the early 2000s that caught the underground's attention: as "Dany Loeble," he did percussion for their 2001 self-titled debut and the 2003 follow-up Diary in Black, before he joined Helloween in 2005.
Metal Archives biography: He took his first drumming lessons at 12 years. His first real musical steps were taken at the age of 14 with a garage band. Not too long after that, the first recording session followed at the age of 16. From 1991 on, he played in a number of local bands. From 1993 to 1995 Dani took drum lessons at MSD (Modern Drum School) in Zurich. In 1994 he founded the band HΓΆllenhunde (Hounds of Hell) together with Thilo Hermann. Between 1996 and 1999 Dani studied music at the ACM (Academy of Contemporary Music) in Zurich. During this time he played in the melodic metal band Glenmore. From 1997 to 1998 he played in the acoustic rock band Element 58. From 1999-2005 Dani played drums for Rawhead Rexx. At the same time he also played drums for Iron Maiden's former singer Blaze Bayley (2004-2005).
A night at the Budokan - the Movie π―π΅ Helloween in Japan 2023 with Dani LΓΆble
HELLOWEEN - Halloween (Official Live Video)
Bill "The Master" Bates (December 15, 1962 - February 21, 2016)
Bill "The Master" Bates was loved in the Houston, Texas metal music underground. He was important through his role as a host of the metal music show Sweet Nightmares at 90.1 KPFT, starting in the 1980s, a home for extreme metal music on the FM dial: thrash, speed, death and black metal, and doom and prog and some crazy experimental metal, too. Bill championed local metal: Helstar, deadhorse, and Imprecation and man others. He invited unsigned acts to bring in their demo tapes and promoting local club dates at venues like The Axiom and Fitzgerald's.
In the metal music scene in Houston, Bill was loved by musicians, metal music supporters and friends in general. Bill played all types of metal music on the Sweet Nightmares radio show on KPFT 90.1 FM, including Texas bands and there are many local Houston metal musicians whose songs Bill played.
Bill’s love of metal music and music in general goes back a long time and he was practically a walking library of knowledge. Bill was obsessed with metal and other like-minded people would recognize a kindred spirit in Bill, who affectionately was called “The Master,” which is a joke within the name Bill “The Master” Bates. Bill was also very funny and had lots of hilarious and embarrassing stories about your favorite bands, Texas bands, and himself. There is a reason why people genuinely loved Bill and it’s because he was kind. That is the Bill that many of us knew.
The older generation knew Bill through the original metal music show Sweet Nightmares that started in the 1980s and that was hosted by Bill and his friend Wes Weaver (1964-2021). Wes (ex-Imprecation, ex-Infernal Dominion) is the guitarist for the death metal band Blaspherian. For many, the names Bill and Wes, Wes and Bill, were said together as if they were twins. These two metal personalities have played a big role in turning people on to new metal music, especially extreme metal.
Below you will find comments about Bill, a Houston Press article about Sweet Nightmares after Bill died, and a YouTube audio of an old show in which you can hear Bill's voice between songs.
Many people have said wonderful things about Bill and it is impossible to put all those comments together in one place. These are some words that friends and musicians and others said about Bill at the time of his death:
Bill had not been well for a long time, and for the recent period dj Herman GarcΓa has kept the show going. It is important that Herman has stepped up to do the show.
Many people have said wonderful things about Bill and it is impossible to put all those comments together in one place. These are some words that friends and musicians and others have said about Bill:
Bill The Master Bates, Houston has lost one of the undergrounds most influential radio personal in music. Not only was Bill Bates a radio personal that played some of the most brutal music to ever get radio time by anyone, he was also an energetic fan of the sounds of the underground. I first had the honor and pleasure of meeting Bill when I was in my early 20's Ive always been a fan Of what Bill Bates and Wes Weaver had accomplished on 90.1 Kpft Sweet Nightmares. What these guys did inspired me to be the musician that I became by playing the music that I wanted to hear instead of playing commercial music that was not getting my attention. Thanks Bill for being apart of the Houston Metal Scene and never giving up on the music. What you guys did up at KPFT was establish a ground zero for all local metal heads. Rest easy, and be at peace. \m/
Rivethead Magazine celebrates the life and mourns the passing of our old friend Bill Bates. Early RH staff writer and longtime host of the KPFT "Sweet Nightmares" radio show, Bill was and will always be a legendary icon to the underground Houston scene. Here he writes about Sweet Nightmares from RH Issue #8, June of 1989. Thanks for everything you ever did, brother. Someone should read the last paragraph of this at your funeral.
Herman:
Last night was kind of tough. We played some of Bill's favorite bands including deadhorse, Helstar and Trouble. We talked about some of memories of Bill Bates and then what blew me away was Bill's mom calling to thank us for doing the show and to say she was still in awe of how important her son was to the community. Important indeed. No one can fit in those shoes. But we will keep going at it and I hope all of you continue to tune in. \m/ \m/
One thing a lot of us agreed. Bill Bates must have sensed this time was coming. He was going to shows, he set up shows and he made it to the radio station. It was almost like he was saying his goodbye as he made his final tour. He touched so many but he was trying real hard to show people no matter what you are suffering, you still need to make time for friends, family and most important do what you can to help your friends in the metal community stay strong. This last week I am seeing so many people stand united in their love for Bill. For that say thank you. He would want you all to know that. So tomorrow one more tough day to say our goodbyes. Then we can continue to share our memories of him. He may have passed, but he will never be forgotten.
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Sweet Nightmares: A KPFT Show That Delivers The Metal
DAVID ROZYCKI
SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 (Houston Press article)
Local metal fans bored with commercial rock radio stations here in Houston really need to check out Sweet Nightmares, a show hosted by Bryan Posey (aka DJ Metallord) and Gilbert Issac Castaneda (aka Kill Casta), which airs weekly on Thursdays from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. on 90.1 FM KPFT and on the web. Many new listeners are surprised to learn that the show has been on the air for 30 years and is one of KPFT’s longest running programs. A cool thing is if you are an early riser and can’t stay up late to listen live on Thursdays you can listen to a few weeks’ archived shows on the KPFT website.
The current hosting team of Posey and Castaneda will celebrate their one year anniversary on Sweet Nightmares together on September 20. For many of the show’s previous years Bill “The Master” Bates co-hosted the show with Wes Weaver of Houston death metal band Blaspherian and then on his own. Bates suffered from a number of health problems late in his life and passed away in February of 2016; he was much loved in the Houston metal community and an all-day memorial concert to help raise money for his family after his death was held at Scout Bar in March 2016.
“We all miss Bill Bates very much, may he rest in peace, but we try and keep this going on in his memory because he would want that,” explains Posey. “This show was very important to him and it’s important to a lot of people man. I really have realized how important it is now doing this on the other side now and it still is relevant to this day.”
A memorial plaque dedicated to Bill Bates is hanging on a wall at KPFT as well as a small pamphlet given out at his funeral. I asked Posey if the show has changed any since Bates passed.
“I always say we keep it updated without outdating it, you know,” explains Posey. “We try to mix the new with the old, and I’ve done polls on Sweet Nightmares Facebook page on what people would rather hear — the old stuff or the newer stuff — and usually it’s 50/50, a little bit of both, so we’re getting really good feedback. I think Bill would be very happy with the way it’s going and what’s going on with it, yes I do.”
Before Posey joined the show, Castaneda co-hosted the show for 3 years with Herman Garcia, who did an excellent job as well but had to leave due to Hurricane Harvey which devastated the lives of so many people in the Houston area.
“He lost his house and everything in the hurricane,” says Posey. “His girlfriend lives in Tennessee so he was like, screw it I don’t have nothing here I might as well move to Tennessee. He didn’t want to do it but they were planning on either her moving down here or him moving up there but there was no sense in her coming down here since the house was gone… He pretty much had to pick up the pieces and start over his life and move there. He really, really didn’t want to go and he hated leaving the show.”
Posey adds that Garcia asked him to replace him on the show since he thought Posey would be the best person to do it with his history within the Houston metal scene, his knowledge of the bands and his previous years of experience as an Internet DJ with Hard Rock Radio Live and his own Nuclear Rock Radio website. Posey also has booked Houston metal shows past and present with his Throne of Metal Promotions & Bookings.
“I didn’t jump on it right away, I thought about it,” explains Posey. “I actually spoke with previous host Wes Weaver before agreeing to do it and he said ‘I think you should take it’ and so that pretty much sealed the deal for me.”
The current hosts of Sweet Nightmares represent two different generations of metalheads, with Posey being in his 40s and Castaneda, who got the shortened nickname Casta because some of his friends had trouble pronouncing his last name, is in his 20s. Posey had been a fan of Sweet Nightmares for many years while Castaneda discovered it more recently.
“If it weren’t for Josh (Rivera) from Thraxis I wouldn’t even know about this gig,” explains Castaneda. “He told me I have a great radio voice and how would I like to put it to use? That’s how I got hooked up for this gig and ever since then I’ve loved it. Every week that I’m here I’m learning about new jams.”
Posey and Castaneda get up to the station an hour to an hour and a half before the show each week and talk about music and what they are going to play on the show; they work together like a well-oiled machine at this point.
I asked the guys how they became such big fans of metal music in the first place.
“When I was way young, when I was a kid, I grew up in a house full of girls with four sisters and my mom so they were always playing pop, hip-hop, or R&B, but I knew that none of that was my cup of tea,” explains Castaneda. “I remember what got me hooked was hearing on the radio on a classic rock station was Twisted Sister’s ‘I Wanna Rock’ and that was the song that was pretty catchy to me and I thought it was really good but I didn’t know what other music that was similar to that to listen to at that time. I was jamming to some hard rock and some alternative jams and I was just thinking like some of these are good but I feel like it needs more aggression, and I’m that type that started exploring more music on the Internet, and then I went to my cousin’s house and he had all these vinyl albums and CDs, stuff like Dethklok, Exodus, Warbringer, CKY, a variety of different types of metal that he got me hooked to. Then I got into some classic metal and the new wave of thrash metal and it just expanded from there.”
Years earlier Posey discovered metal music from a relative as well.
“When I was a kid, my uncle had all these vinyl albums — rock music, hard rock music. I’m talking stuff like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, I mean literally like hundreds if not thousands of albums,” Posey explained. “I was just fascinated. I remember being 8 or 9 years old looking at Ozzy Osbourne’s Diary of A Madman album going ‘wow dude this looks cool!’ And then Kiss was the band that really started me into hard rock and stuff. As I got to be a teenager, I discovered Twisted Sister, Quiet Riot, all that stuff, and then it just got harder and more extreme. I was there for the birth of thrash metal, the second wave of punk, a lot of the New York City hardcore stuff, and death metal. It became an obsession and it’s a part of me, it’s like my being… rock metal music, it’s always been there for me and it’s helped me through a lot of things.”
Posey and Castaneda like metal so much they both became drummers, playing in several different bands over the years and they both agree the music is a very big and important part of their lives, not just some trivial or slight thing.
“This is me, this is how I am and I always will be until they throw the freaking dirt on me,” explained Posey. “I didn’t want to be a doctor, I didn’t want to be a lawyer. I wanted to be a freaking rock star.”
The extreme metal music played on Sweet Nightmares is an obsession to their listeners as well; people all over the world listen to the show via the Internet, in addition to the local fans who listen live on the radio and call in to win free tickets to shows each week. The program even has a number of fans who are serving time in prison; Posey showed me some of the letters they have sent in to the show thanking Sweet Nightmares for the music they play.
Posey and I are about the same age and we reminisced a little bit about how some people thought metal music was literally evil and earnestly satanic back in the 80s; the metal music scene was also more of a boy’s club back then while today it is a lot different.
“It’s really changed now because there are a lot of women fronting bands and there are certain women who are freaking shredders and just unbelievable guitarists,” explained Posey. “The ladies hold their own man. I know some gals that are heavier than some dudes you know that are into metal. The reason [my wife and I] got together was because of rock and metal music. We’ve been married for 20 years now.”
“In the metal community, everyone just makes you feel like family, especially when you’re at shows,” said Castaneda. “Sometimes people like to be judgmental just because they see a guy with long hair…but whenever you go to a metal show it just makes you feel like you’re with your family, with your brothers, your sisters. It’s a metal bond that everyone has.”
Sweet Nightmares airs weekly on Thursday nights starting at 11 p.m. on 90.1 FM KPFT and online at kpft.org
sweet nightmares bill bates
