Wednesday, March 4, 2026
"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)
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
WYTCH HAZEL - "Freedom Battle"
this Saturday - TRIP THE WIRE at Tony V's Garage in Everett, Washington, USA
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
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/
Monday, March 2, 2026
Iranian metal CONFESS and Ayatollah Khamenei
Happy Anniversary to DEMON HUNTER's Peace!
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Happy Anniversary to DEMON HUNTER's War!
div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Demon Hunter
War
March 1, 2019
Solid State
1. Cut to Fit 4:41
2. On My Side 4:04
3. Close Enough 4:07
4. Unbound 3:14
5. Grey Matter 4:18
6. The Negative 4:10
7. Ash 3:00
8. No Place for You Here 3:44
9. Leave Me Alone 5:50
10. Lesser Gods 5:15
total time 42:13
On March 1, 2019, Demon Hunter released TWO full-length albums simultaneously! While its twin album Peace focused on the band's melodic and atmospheric side, War was a more on the intense side. Over the years fans have liked the songs "On My Side," "Ash," and "The Negative". Wikipedia says that in its debut week, War moved 13,000 units, landing at No. 7 on the Billboard Top Current Albums chart and cracking the top 60 of the Billboard 200. Critics were equally impressed, with Loudwire citing the War/Peace duo as one of the standout metal achievements of the year.
Turn it up! Here is one song that I like, but I recommend the entire album!
Demon Hunter "On My Side" (Official Music Video)
Happy Anniversary to ICED EARTH's Burnt Offerings!
Saturday, February 28, 2026
In Memory of URIAH HEEP singer David Byron (1947-1985)
David Byron (29 January 1947 – 28 February 1985)
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
In Memory of ARMORED SAINT Guitarist David Prichard (1963-1990)
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
Thursday, February 26, 2026
Dreams Of Gray Across the Endless Sea Video
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/
Hirax – Hellion Rising – Live on 70,000 Tons of Metal 2026 (HD)
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 🙂
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
Hellslaught - Blood Upon The Eastern Throne Live - 1.31.25
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 in Everett at Tony Vs Garage - Saturday March 7
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/
VOIDCHASER - Welcome to Terra Corp (OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO)
Check out the new music, and what the band's announcements about it.
🚀 WELCOME TO TERRA CORP has been out for just over a week and we’re already past 4000+ streams on Spotify.
👉 Animation by the one and only Irvan Dionisi.
New album INTERSTELLAR I is out on April 9th!
Album launch show 👇
🗓️ April 10th, 2026
📍 Piranha Bar, Montréal
👉 With Omnivide and Jovian Storms
🎟️ INTERSTELLAR I ALBUM LAUNCH | VOIDCHASER, OMNIVIDE, JOVIAN STORMS
Interstellar I, Voidchaser’s second full length record, depicts themes of technological overreach, mass corruption and personal struggles related to identity, love and survival, unfolding within a vast, lore infused deep space universe. This release balances a dense and layered wall of sound, high energy choruses and memorable melodies, where every second serves the storytelling. Musically, the album brings to mind the style of Devin Townsend’s Ziltoid the Omniscient and Dream Theater’s Systematic Chaos, while reinterpreting those influences through Voidchaser’s own modern and distinctive sound, also drawing from classic foundations found in Deep Purple’s Machine Head and Black Sabbath’s Paranoid.
After capturing the hearts of audiences at festivals such as ProgPower Europe in the Netherlands and ProgStorm Festival in Montreal, Voidchaser returns with a level of maturity that defines their most ambitious release to date.
BIO
Voidchaser is a progressive metal band based in Montreal and Stockholm, formed in 2023. Through a steady stream of releases, the band quickly gained attention from outlets such as The ProgSpace, Prog Magazine and Prog Sphere, Metal Injection and Decibel Magazine.
In 2024, Voidchaser released their debut EP Odyssey and their first full-length album Solace, which charted among the top metal releases on Apple Music and iTunes in several countries. In 2025, the band followed with the EP Trust, featuring Jim Grey of Caligula’s Horse and The Anchoret, and then completed its first international tour across Canada and Europe.
In 2026, Voidchaser announced Interstellar I, their second full-length album. Set in a vast, lore-infused deep space universe, the album balances a dense and layered wall of sound with high-energy choruses and memorable melodies, drawing from Devin Townsend, Dream Theater, Deep Purple and Bl
VOIDCHASER - Welcome to Terra Corp (OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO)
facebook.com/VoidchaserOfficial
August Burns Red - Behemoth (Official Music Video)
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
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
In Memory of ANNIHILATOR singer Coburn Pharr (1962-2025)
Coburn Pharr (Aug 27, 1962 - Feb 25, 2025)
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: Iced Earth February 25, 1991
Iced Earth: Iced Earth February 25, 1991
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
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Hesychast - Eastern Orthodox Christian atmospheric black metal
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
FUGITIVE - "Spheres Of Virulence" (Official Video) (Texas, USA thrash)
Megadeth - Tipping Point (Official Music Video)
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 - Let There Be Shred (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!"
Salem 1998 album A Moment of Silence on vinyl for the first time
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