in memory of SACRED REICH guitarist Jason Rainey (1967-2020)

Jason Wesley Rainey (February 14, 1967 - March 16, 2020)

My favorite era of the Sacred Reich is the 1980s when they were a thrash band. Metal Archives shows that Jason was a founding member of Arizona, USA thrash band Sacred Reich (1985-2000, 2006-present). Jason was part of the band during what thrash fans consider the band's most classic period. Jason was also part of the band when they stopped being a thrash band, when they changed musical to the simplified style of groove metal beginning with the album The American Way. For the band, they gained underground momentum with their debut, Ignorance (1987), and the Surf Nicaragua EP (1988), it was The American Way that propelled them into a higher level of success. Jason continued with the band through the 1990s, playing on the albums Independent (1993) and Heal (1996). He left the band in 2019 due to health issues and did not play on their comeback album, Awakening. Below is one of the most Sacred Reich songs that Sacred Reich ever made!

Sacred Reich - Surf Nicaragua - Live at Wacken Open Air 2017

Sacred Reich - Surf Nicaragua

remembering MOLLY HATCHET drummer Bruce Crump (1957-2015)

Bruce Hull Crump, Jr. (July 17, 1957 – March 16, 2015)

According to Wikipedia, Bruce Hull Crump, Jr., the drummer for American classic rockers Molly Hatchet, was born on July 17, 1957 and died on March 16, 2015. Bruce played drums on the 1970s albums. He was with them from 1976 to 1982, and then again from 1984 to 1991.

Bruce was part of the Molly Hatchet sound for the vast majority of their classic era. As the band's original drummer, he performed on their self-titled debut in 1978 and the multi-platinum follow-up Flirtin' with Disaster in 1979. He continued through the early 1980s on Beatin' the Odds and Take No Prisoners, and after a brief departure, he returned for 1984's The Deed Is Done and 1989's Lightning Strikes Twice. Across these six studio albums, Bruce's drumming helped establish the band’s signature sound of Southern rock and heavy metal.

Wikipedia trivia: (Dave) Hlubek founded the band Molly Hatchet in 1971 on the heels of his first band ('Mind Garden') with longtime friend/bassist Tim Lindsey. Front man/vocalist Danny Joe Brown joined in 1974, plus guitarist Duane Roland, guitarist Steve Holland, bassist Banner Thomas also joined in 1974, and drummer Bruce Crump joined in 1976. Hlubek was also the original vocalist when they started, as well as becoming the band's most prolific songwriter; writing or co-writing the majority of the group's songs, including their most famous, "Flirtin' with Disaster". When they finally signed their recording contract with Epic Records, they received help and advice from Lynyrd Skynyrd vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, who was originally supposed to produce their first album but was killed in a plane crash in 1977. While most people tagged Molly Hatchet as "Southern rock", Hlubek admits it was only because of their location. He considered Molly Hatchet, along with Blackfoot, to actually be heavy metal bands from the South. In fact, he also said that, although hard to talk about, it was the demise of Lynyrd Skynyrd, who were on top of the world at that time, that opened the door for Molly Hatchet.

The "ORIGINAL" MOLLY HATCHET Band - Full Concert - 11/10/78 - Capitol Theatre (OFFICIAL)

[The "ORIGINAL" MOLLY HATCHET Band - FULL CONCERT - CAPITOL THEATRE ... Passaic, NJ 11/10/78 ... Featuring: Lead Singer, DANNY JOE BROWN; Lead Guitarist, DAVE HLUBEK; Lead Guitarist, DUANE ROLAND; Lead Guitarist, STEVE HOLLAND; Bass Guitarist, BANNER THOMAS & Drummer, BRUCE CRUMP. The Band Performs Their Songs ... 1) Bounty Hunter; 2) Gator Country; 3) The Big Apple; 4) Dreams I'll Never See; 5) Trust Your Old Friend; 6) The Harp Jam]

in memory of SHOK PARIS drummer Bill Sabo (1960-2007)

William Sabo (July 26, 1960 - March 16, 2007)

Metal Archives shows that Bill Sabo was a founding member and the original drummer for the Cleveland, Ohio, heavy metal band Shok Paris, and he was with them from 1982 until 1986. His most notable work was playing drums on the band's debut 1984 album Go for the Throat, a cult favorite for fans of the Cleveland sound and of what some German fans call U.S. metal, a blue-collar, gritty type of heavy metal that is hard, tough while melodic.

Shok Paris

Go for the Throat

Auburn Records

1984

1. Marsielles de Sade 02:28

2. Battle Cry 03:02

3. Burn It Down 03:16

4. On a Wing and a Prayer 04:32

5. Chosen Ones 05:13

6. Caged Tiger 03:37

7. Never Say Why 03:30

8. Go for the Throat 03:09

9. Can't Fight the Evil 04:34

10. Run but Don't Hide 04:57

total time 38:18

SHOK PARIS - Battle Cry

in memory of JUDAS PRIEST drummer Les Binks (1951-2025)

James Leslie Binks (July 6, 1951 - Mar 15, 2025)

Les Binks is most famous for playing with Judas Priest from 1977 to 1979. He drummed on the heavy metal classics Stained Class and Killing Machine. Earlier in the 1970s, he played with the bands Fancy and Wizard's Convention. In the early 1980s, he joined Lionheart and recorded the album Rough Justice with Tytan. Later in his career, he played with many different groups like Broken Bones, Raw Glory, and Metalworks. He stayed active in the metal scene by forming his own band, Les Binks' Priesthood, in 2018. He also worked with K.K. Downing in the band KK's Priest between 2019 and 2021. Binks played with many other projects over the years, including Axis Point, The River Gods, and Purple Haze. He drummed right up until his passing on March 15, 2025.

Les played on two legendary Judas Priest studio albums in 1978. The first was Stained Class, famous for the opening song "Exciter," which features Binks' fast drumming. Other songs are "White Heat, Red Hot," "Savage," and the title track "Stained Class." Binks also played on the cover song "Better by You, Better than Me." He helped write the music for the great song "Beyond the Realms of Death." This album ends with the heavy tracks "Saints in Hell," "Invader," and "Heroes End." This is my favorite Judas Priest album of all time!

The second album he recorded that year was Killing Machine, which was released as Hell Bent for Leather in the United States. This album features known songs like "Delivering the Goods," "Rock Forever," and the classic "Hell Bent for Leather." Listen to Les work on "Take On the World" and the melodic song "Evening Star." It's different! The album also includes the tracks "Burnin' Up," "Running Wild," and "Evil Fantasies." Binks showed his range by drumming on the soft ballad "Before the Dawn" as well as the heavy title track "Killing Machine." Both of these albums were highly influential for the younger generations of heavy metal music in Britain itself, and in USA, Canada, Germany and Brazil, and other countries, for both traditional heavy metal bands and thrash bands.

Les also played on the live album Unleashed in the East (1979).

Judas Priest - Exciter (live Japan HD)

Happy birthday to ICED EARTH's Jon Schaffer!

Jon Ryan Schaffer, born Mar 15, 1968

Metal Archives shows that Jon Schaffer started the band in 1984 as The Rose, then as Purgatory and then as Iced Earth by 1988. Jon is the main songwriter and rhythm guitarist, known a sound of fast, galloping riffs, a type of thrash heavy metal with lots of melodies. The albums have focused on a blend of history and fiction. According to Metal Archives, fans consider classics albums like Iced Earth (1990), Night of the Stormrider (1991), The Dark Saga (1996), Something Wicked This Way Comes (1998) and Alive in Athens Live album (1999).

Jon Schaffer participated in the January 6 Capitol riot in 2021. He turned himself in. He plead guilty. He was charged with obstructing an official proceeding of Congress and trespassing on restricted grounds of the Capitol while armed with a dangerous weapon (bear spray that he had with him, but did not use it on anyone). He cooperated with the FBI. In October 2024 a judge sentenced him to three years of probation. Schaffer released a public statement through his lawyers shortly after his sentencing: "I profoundly regret my actions on January 6th, 2021", saying "I’m not excusing my impulsive behavior. I was wrong, and I take ownership of my actions. I own the fact that I made a huge mistake, and I wish I never would have gone there. In fact, the consequences have been devastating of my life, family, friends, business, colleagues and business partners."

On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump issued a full pardon to Schaffer on his first day back in office. Metal Archives vindictively labels Jon Schaffer a "terrorist," but the fact of the matter is clear: The federal government never labeled him that, and he was not participating in any terrorist activities nor did he carry out any violent crimes at all. He was classified as a felon for several months between his sentencing in 2024 and his pardon in 2025. Since the 2025 pardon he has no active criminal record for the January 6 events.

Jon converted to Christianity in jail. If you are interested in learning more about Jon's case and his conversion to Christianity, I recommend this interview: "In this interview, Jon Schaffer (Iced Earth, Sons Of Liberty, Schaffer/Barlow Project, and Demons and Wizards) tells his story. This interview covers Jon's origin story all the way through his presidential pardon from President Donald Trump. Jon tells us what really happened on January 6th in Washington DC, about his time in solitary confinement, and what happened to him during this time."

Jon Schaffer - Finally Free

ICED EARTH - Dystopia (OFFICIAL VIDEO) (from Dystopia 2011)

ICED EARTH - Anthem (OFFICIAL VIDEO)from (Dystopia 2011)

Happy Birthday to SUICIDAL TENDENCIES' Mike Muir!

Michael Allen Muir, born Mar 14, 1963

Mike is synonymous with the name of the crossover band Suicidal Tendencies (1981-1995, 1996-present). The band had success with "Institutionalized", a funny music video that was played on MTV, and has spawned countless memes amongst metal fans about a certain soft drink. Their albums, like, How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today (1988), Controlled by Hatred/Feel Like ****... Déjà Vu (1989) and Lights...Camera...Revolution! (1990) have become a type of cult classics for fans of crossover metal music, and helped the band achieve commercial success in the 1980s and 1990s. They continue recording albums and touring today!

Suicidal Tendencies - "Institutionalized" Frontier Records - Official Music Video

Suicidal Tendencies - Trip At The Brain

Suicidal Tendencies - Trip At The Brain

remembering MOTORHEAD guitarist Phil Campbell (1961-2026)

Philip Anthony Campbell (May 7, 1961 - Mar 13, 2026)

Phil Campbell (Wales, U.K.) first notable band was during his time in the British heavy metal band Persian Risk from 1979 to 1984, according to Metal Archives, which also shows that Phil joined Motörhead in 1983. It looks like after he joined Motörhead, both bands went on tour and Phil played with both Persian Risk as the opening band, and then with Motörhead, too. After that, he was only with Motörhead for 31 years until the end in 2015 after the death of Lemmy Kilmister. After Motörhead, he continued on with Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons.

What I want to do at this time is to show a different side of Motörhead with Phil Campbell. Fans know about the fast and furious side of Motörhead, a band that can play punk, heavy metal and thrash, depending on the album, era and specific songs. However, there is another side to their music: the blues. If one collects all the blues songs from their discography, one could easily put two albums together of Motörhead The Blues Band. They always had the blues in their music, starting in the 1970s, and this continued with Phil, too. This is only a handful of examples. This list would be much longer if I listed all the songs that show that the blues was always an element of the Motörhead sound. When Lemmy said that they were not a heavy metal band, that they were a rock and roll band, here was Motörhead trying, throughout the decades, album after album, trying to educate us all on the history of rock and roll music that turned into heavy metal music.

Motörhead - "Just 'Cos You Got the Power" (Eat the Rich single, 1987)

Motörhead - "You Better Run" (March ör Die, 1992)

Motörhead - "Lost in the Ozone" (Bastards, 1993)

Motörhead - "Bad Woman" (Bastards, 1993)

Motörhead - "Don't Let Daddy Kiss Me" (Bastards, 1993)

Motörhead - "Don't Waste Your Time" (Sacrifice, 1995)

Motörhead - "Whorehouse Blues" (Inferno, 2004)

Motörhead - "Christine" (Kiss of Death, 2006)

Motörhead - "Rock 'n' Roll Music" (The Wörld Is Yours, 2011)

Motörhead - "Lost Woman Blues" (Aftershock, 2013)

Motörhead - "Keep Your Powder Dry" (Aftershock, 2013)

Motörhead - "Dust and Glass" (Aftershock, 2013)

Motörhead - "Till the End" (Bad Magic, 2015)

Overruled - Solitude (Official Track) [thrash from Holland]

I have been listening to the new Overruled recording. I like it. Overruled is a speed thrash metal band from the Netherlands. Their style is fast and sharp. Metal Archives shows that they released an EP in 2013 and a full-length album called Hybris in 2018, and nothing else until now. I do not recall hearing this band before so this is my first time. Sounds good! This new EP is titled Ritual of Rebirth. The tracks on the recording are "Man of Lies," "Darkest Realm," "Solitude," "Ritual of Rebirth," and "Inner Self" (a cover of the second song from Sepultura 1989's classic Beneath the Remains). Overruled is a speed thrash metal record made for headbanging. Their songs are full of awesome metal energy. It is a great piece of fast-paced metal. This EP will be released on No Dust Records on the 27th of March, 2026.

Overruled - Solitude (Official Track)

https://www.facebook.com/Overruledband/

THUNDEROR (Canada) - Get 'Em Counted (Official Video)

After the rocking heavy metal band Thunderor's debut album Fire It Up back in 2022, they began showing where things were going for the future with this song. YouTube shows that this song was released a year ago already in anticipation of the second album, which we now know is titled Bleed for It, scheduled for an April 17th, 2026 release on Boonsdale Records.The track list for the new Thunderor album includes: "Pump Up the Volume" (03:42), "Bleed for It" (04:04), "Take Me to the Show" (04:09), "Get ‘Em Counted" (03:19), "Cape Breton Home" (03:33), "Streets of Fire" (04:16), "One Chance" (03:40), "DreamQuest" (01:29), and "In the Fire o' the Heat" (04:19). The total running time for the album is 32:31.

Check out the music video below, and get ready for some fun heavy metal!

The story of Thunderor so far: Formed in 2020 by multi-JUNO-nominated musicians JJ Tartaglia and Jonny Nesta (also known for their work in Skull Fist), THUNDEROR delivers hook-driven anthems to the caliber set by their arena-rock predecessors, infused with elements of heavy metal, hair metal, and rock opera. Their debut album, FIRE IT UP (2022), charted at #1 on Earshot’s National Loud Chart in Canada, quickly establishing the band as a rising force in the global metal scene. Extensive tours across Europe, Canada, Mexico, and South America followed, with Thunderor sharing stages alongside major acts such as Airbourne, U.D.O., Enforcer, and Night Demon.

In May 2024, the single “Get ‘Em Counted” amassed over 230K views on YouTube, further fueling anticipation for the band’s next chapter. In the summer of 2025, Thunderor unveiled Thunderor the Musical at the Toronto Fringe Festival—a bold rock opera production featuring a full cast and unreleased material that now forms the backbone of their forthcoming sophomore album. Set for release in April 2026, the new album will feature the high-energy singles such as “Pump Up The Volume” and "One Chance" that embody the band’s uplifting spirit and theatrical flair. With improved vocals, bigger anthem choruses, and a concept-driven narrative, the record promises to be both a soundtrack to the musical and a standalone heavy metal experience. If you’ve ever felt a longing for escape, a thirst for adventure, wrapped in romance and danger, allow THUNDEROR to be your soundtrack!

THUNDEROR - Get 'Em Counted (Official Video)

https://www.facebook.com/ThunderorOfficial/

Western Washington University metal music club

This is the metal music club at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington, USA, on Instagram the @wwudraugrs!

EVERGREY - OXYGEN! (Official Video) | Napalm Records

Video produced and hand-painted by Bellamy Reibeiro ‪@bellamyribeiro‬ Music produced by Tom S. Englund & Vikram Shankar (e.g. Within Temptation & Silent Skies) Music mixed by Adam ”Nolly” Getgood (e.g. Periphery, Sleep Token, Architects)

EVERGREY quotes:

“We’re thrilled to unleash our new single, ‘Oxygen’! This is EVERGREY at our most explosive – almost certainly our heaviest track yet, packed with crushing riffs, vibrant key changes, and soaring melodies that’ll awaken your soul. Lyrically, it embodies the raw, suffocating weight of an inner darkness, yet symbolizes the relentless never-ending war to break free and grasp that fleeting breath of hope. We’ve bled for this one and can’t wait for you to live in its intensity. Because this is us, like you’ve never heard before!”

EVERGREY - OXYGEN! (Official Video) | Napalm Records

EVERGREY - Architects Of The New Weave (Animation Video) | Napalm Records

Evergrey comments on their new song:

"New Album via Napalm Records – Architects of the New Weave Releases June 5, 2026! Architects of the New Weave – It’s a blistering first single from our 15th studio album, Architects of a New Weave (or the second ferocious strike if you're counting our standalone powerhouse Oxygen! as its own beast)! I am not afraid to claim this is a no-brainer, sing along friendly straight up great metal song! It came ignited from Rikard Zander's killer keyboard riff, which we hammered into a short, but massive headbanger! When crafting that chorus keyboard line, Rainbow in the Dark was blasting in my head—pure epic inspiration, giving it that timeless, fist-pumping edge.

The dual guitar solos, trading fire in classic old-school style, melodic and memorable, we can't wait to let this rip live! I'm torn on music videos sometimes—I adore them as an art form, but too often the visuals steal focus from the music itself. So we went bold: a stunning, immersive introduction to Mattias Norén's absolute magnum opus of album artwork. Every tiny, intricate detail comes alive on screen, with the track thundering as the perfect dark soundtrack. It's hypnotic, lets the art breathe, and pulls you deeper into our world - We could've chosen any track from the album as the lead, but this one's the perfect explosive opener to our new era of beautiful darkness. I've never been more fired up. Crank it loud, join the weave, and let's build something unstoppable together!"

EVERGREY - Architects Of The New Weave (Animation Video) | Napalm Records

BERZAN'S NEVERMORE AUDITIONS - SEA OF POSSIBILITIES

Nevermore continues the videos of the new singer: Berzan Önen.

"Sea of Possibilities is the third of five NEVERMORE audition videos from our new vocalist Berzan Önen. This was recorded and submitted in January of 2025 a couple of weeks after the first two. All vocals are done by Berzan (including backing melodies). Subscribe to our channel to ensure you get notified when we release the next one!"

BERZAN'S NEVERMORE AUDITIONS - SEA OF POSSIBILITIES

TESTAMENT - Envy Life 2026 Remastered (OFFICIAL VISUALIZER)

"Official remastered track 'Envy Life' from Iconic Bay Area thrash band ‪@Testament‬. The remastered reissue of the band's coveted 1989 album, Practice What You Preach, is out on May 8, 2026 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The Practice What You Preach (2026 Remaster) reissue was remastered by Justin Shturtz at Sterling Sound. It will be available digitally and 180G vinyl on Yellow and Orange Swirl with Black Splatter (limited to 1250 worldwide) and is packaged with brand new artwork from Bill Benson (who also designed the original cover art), a 20pg booklet showcasing old photos and documents provided by Chuck Billy and Eric Peterson of the band and newly provided liner notes."

TESTAMENT - Envy Life 2026 Remastered (OFFICIAL VISUALIZER)

ARMSTRONG METALFEST - British Columbia, Canada - July 17 and 18, 2026

ARMSTRONG METALFEST - British Columbia, Canada - July 17 and 18, 2026

ARMSTRONG METALFEST is proud to announce their most devastating lineup to date for 2026 with co-headliners RIVERS OF NIHIL and DYING FETUS, along with CYBORG OCTOPUS, INTO ETERNITY, FERVENCE, VINTERSEA, LYCANTHRO, IRON KINGDOM, ODINFIST, ART OF ATTRITION and many more!

The loudest and most extreme music festival returns for its 16th year of delivering British Columbia, Canada’s ultimate mountain mosh pit on July 17 and 18, 2026, at the Hassen Arena in the Okanagan town of Armstrong. Fans can look forward to two full days of moshing, headbanging, thrash wrestling, and camping.

Early bird tickets have already sold out, with advance pre-sale tickets now available until midnight (PST) on July 9th.

Festival passes are available at: https://armstrongmetalfest.ca/tickets/

All prices apply to full weekend passes and are subject to applicable taxes. Each weekend pass grants general admission and access to the festival grounds, camping area, and arena from 9:00 AM on Friday, July 17, 2026, until 10:00 AM on Sunday, July 18, 2026. Free camping is included.

Armstrong MetalFest 2026 Lineup:

Friday, July 17th

Rivers of Nihil (Reading, PA)

Cyborg Octopus (San Francisco, CA)

Fervence (Austin, TX)

Nott (Seattle, WA)

Iron Kingdom (Vancouver, BC)

Lycanthro (Ottawa, ON)

W.M.D. (Vancouver, BC)

Syryn (Calgary, AB)

Nameless King (Vancouver, BC

Frosthymn (Calgary, AB)

Die Another Day (Calgary, AB)

Pharm (Kelowna, BC)

Storm the Empire (Kelowna, BC)

Shotgun Divine (Nelson, BC)

Skeksis (Vernon, BC)

Saturday, July 18th

Dying Fetus (Baltimore, MD)

Into Eternity (Regina, SK)

Vintersea (Portland, OR)

Odinfist (Okanagan, BC)

Wych (Calgary, AB)

Art of Attrition (Red Deer, AB)

Fallen Sun (Prince George, BC)

The Judge The Juror (Edmonton, AB)

Brain Stem (Edmonton, AB)

Gregorious (Kamloops, BC)

Empalement (Victoria, BC)

Broken Crow (Kamloops, BC)

Daniel Martin & The Infamous (Edmonton, AB)

The Collapse (Kelowna, BC)

In addition to the performing bands, Armstrong Metal Fest will have the following on-site activities: Yeti Games, Metal Madness Market, and Thrash Wrestling.

Please Note: Camping – RV / Non-Hookup RV / Vehicle Passes: Make sure to reserve your vehicle spot to get the best location on the grounds. A fee is required for a weekend pass per vehicle in addition to your day or weekend pass. RV hookups include water and power. If you park your vehicle outside the camping area in the main parking lot, a vehicle pass is not required.

About:

Since its inception in 2009 (with a brief hiatus in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), West Metal Entertainment and Armstrong MetalFest have championed hundreds of local bands while welcoming renowned international acts to the quiet town of Armstrong, British Columbia.

Every year, metalheads from across Canada and the U.S. converge on the scenic Okanagan Valley for three days of camping and two days packed with heavy metal mayhem. Under the blazing summer sun, fans revel in live performances, wrestling spectacles, scavenger hunts, and reconnecting with their extended metal family.

Armstrong MetalFest has hosted legendary headliners such as Kataklysm, Cattle Decapitation, Archspire, Nekrogoblikon, Origin, Warbringer, Fallujah, Striker, Beyond Creation, Born of Osiris, Havok, The Browning, Virvum, and rising stars from across North America and Europe. And when the final riff fades, the festival vanishes without a trace, leaving the landscape as untouched as it was before.

West Metal Entertainment, a non-profit society, not only produces Armstrong MetalFest annually but also supports the regional music scene by organizing performances at various venues, including all-ages shows, to inspire musical passion in both youth and adults.

Monstrosity - Screams from Beneath the Surface (classic-style death album released today)

Monstrosity

Screams from Beneath the Surface

Metal Blade Records

13 March 2026

If you’re into that classic, old-school Florida death metal sound, in my opinion, Monstrosity is a people’s champ! To me, ever since their awesome 1992 debut album, Monstrosity has been everything that genre fans expect from death metal—the kind of death metal that needs no additional adjectives.

The vocals carry a strength of brutality with no weaknesses; it's a strong, muscular growl that makes fans of old-school death metal drive faster, run faster, mosh harder, or injure themselves at the gym thinking they can bench press 300 pounds.

This is album number seven, and they deliver nothing but straight-up quality. It’s riff after riff of headbanging energy, supported by a rhythm section that works flawlessly. The drumming in Monstrosity has always been a thing that keeps me interested; every album is a clinic in death metal drumming. Wow.

Lastly, even though this is not melodic death metal at all—it’s classic-style, foundational American death metal—there are great guitar solos all over the album. They aren't show-off or self-indulgent; rather, they are fitting solos that complement the songs perfectly. A job well done! I am pleased.

Screams from Beneath the Surface by Monstrosity

Monstrosity - Screams from Beneath the Surface (FULL ALBUM)

Happy birthday to DISTURBED singer David Draiman, born March 13, 1973!

David Michael Draiman (March 13, 1973, New York City, U.S.) is best known as the lead vocalist for the American groove rock heavy metal band Disturbed. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Chicago, he joined the band in 1996 and helped them become one of the most successful rock acts of the 21st century. Draiman is famous for his baritone voice, which goes from aggressive, percussive sounds to melodic and emotional singing. Disturbed's music is heavy, driving grooves with lyrics on personal and social themes. In rock metal world Disturbed is known for hits like "Down with the Sickness." Disturbed got tons of recognition for the cover of "The Sound of Silence."

Disturbed's lineup has remained stable with guitarist Dan Donegan and drummer Mike Wengren since the beginning, with bassist John Moyer joining in the early 2000s. The band has achieved much success with a rhythmic, percussive sound: five consecutive albums debut at number one on the Billboard 200, starting with Believe in 2002.

On the political side, Draiman, who is Jewish and has family members living in Israel, has consistently defended Israel’s right to exist and its role as a necessary refuge for the Jewish people from persecution and violence. He has explained the history of persecution against Jewish people and modern-day Jew-hatred. He has used the stage to call for humanity and dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.  He has said that "it doesn’t matter whether you are Israeli or Palestinian," that everyone is welcome at a Disturbed show. In 2025, after Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong made pro-Palestine comments at Coachella, Draiman publicly offered to have an "open and respectful dialogue" to share perspectives without judgment. In various mid-concert speeches, he has stated that while he believes Hamas must be removed, he wishes for a future where "Palestinians and Israelis" can finally live in "prosperous coexistence."

Disturbed - Down With The Sickness (Official Music Video) [HD UPGRADE]

Disturbed - Stupify (Official Music Video) [4K Upgrade]

Disturbed - Indestructible [Official Music Video]

Happy anniversary to Damn Yankees — Damn Yankees (1990)!

Damn Yankees

Damn Yankees

Warner Bros.

March 13, 1990

Damn Yankees is the self-titled debut album by the American hard rock heavy metal supergroup Damn Yankees formed in 1989. Wikipedia shows that the album was certified double platinum in the US. The album sounds like a greatest hits collection, it's filled with ranging from rockers, anthems and ballads and everything in between. The band made music videos for "High Enough", "Come Again", and "Coming of Age". The album, you could say, is American good-time, party rock and roll songs, accompanied by a great abundance of musical skill, experience, knowledge and talent for focused songwriting.

This type of American hard rock heavy metal is what American rock bands have always been the best at when they want to: rocking music that sounds like fun! Damn Yankees makes it look so easy.

The band consisted of bassist and vocalist Jack Blades from Night Ranger, guitarist and vocalist Tommy Shaw from Styx, and guitarist and vocalist Ted Nugent. They were joined by drummer Michael Cartellone, who later joined Lynyrd Skynyrd. Damned Yankees were active in the early 1990s, with a few short reunions in the following years. The band released two studio albums during their main run. Their self-titled debut, Damn Yankees, was released on March 13, 1990. Their second album, Don't Tread, followed on August 11, 1992. The group was known for mixing the melodic rock style of Styx and Night Ranger with the aggressive guitar playing of Ted Nugent. The debut album features ten tracks: "Coming of Age," "Bad Reputation," "Runaway," "High Enough," "Damn Yankees," "Come Again," "Mystified," "Rock City," "Tell Me How You Want It," and "Piledriver."

Damn Yankees - Coming Of Age (Official Video)

Damn Yankees - Come Again (Official Video)

Damn Yankees - High Enough (Official Music Video)

Damn Yankees - Damn Yankees

in memory of metal music author Garry Sharpe-Young (1964–2010)

Garry Sharpe-Young (1964 - Mar 12, 2010)

Garry Sharpe-Young (1964–2010) was an English music journalist and author. He was an expert on heavy metal and hard rock. He founded Rockdetector, which became a massive database for metal bands. He spent decades documenting metal history. At age 14, he created album art, including the cover for Grim Reaper’s See You in Hell. Later, he wrote for magazines like Metal Forces and Aardschok. He launched Rockdetector in 2001. The site eventually listed over 60,000 bands. He wrote detailed biographies based on thousands of interviews. He wanted to document every metal band, including obscure ones.

He wrote more than 20 books. These are now essential guides for fans. Metal: The Definitive Guide (2007) is a 500-page encyclopedia with a foreword by Rob Halford. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (2006) is a detailed biography of Black Sabbath. His A-Z Series covered subgenres like Death Metal, Thrash Metal, and Black Metal. New Wave of American Heavy Metal (2005) chronicled the rise of bands like Lamb of God.

He moved to New Zealand in the early 2000s. He worked as an events manager for the New Plymouth District Council. He helped bring acts like Motörhead and Fleetwood Mac to the area. He died unexpectedly on March 12, 2010, from an aneurysm. He was 45 years old. His death was a major loss to the metal community. He was respected for his accuracy and integrity.

Metal Archives biography: Sharpe-Young started out in the music industry at age 14, creating artwork for album covers, including Grim Reaper‘s See You In Hell and Queensryche‘s Rage For Order. He soon decided that writing about music was his true calling and began working for the fanzine Metal Mania, owned by famed San Francisco DJ Ron Quintana. He went on to write for Aardschok America, then spent seven years working for Metal Forces. He also worked with various records labels as an A&R man, signing new talent. During his lengthy career, he wrote over twenty books, including the 2007 reference manual Metal: The Definitive Guide which featured a foreword by Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford, the 2007 thrash encyclopedia Thrash Metal and the unauthorized biographies Sabbath Bloody Sabbath: The Battle For Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne: The Story of the Ozzy Osbourne Band.