Howdy! Hope you had a great weekend! Here’s what’s up!
Ghost frontman Tobias Forge, who performs as Papa Emeritus, told the Albuquerque Journal that even as he is preparing to record the band’s fourth studio album, he’s thinking about the one after that. Forge explained, “It’s a pick and mix of a lot of different ideas and stuff laying around, a lot of new stuff being added to the pile. Yeah, it’s a constant thinking ahead, and now, already now, I’m thinking about album Number Five, because there are songs coming out now or coming up being written that I feel like that won’t fit into the new album, so I’ll put that one on to the next one instead.”
Forge hinted at the lyrical themes of the next record, saying, “Having in mind that the previous record was about the absence of God or the absence of deities, this new one is going to be about the return of God. You know God’s wrath cast upon the suffering humans, so it will be a little bit more biblical in that sense, which in turn makes it darker, a little bit more apocalyptic, I think.”
Ghost will enter the studio in mid-August to begin recording the new LP, after it completes its current North American tour as support for Iron Maiden. The follow-up to 2015’s Meliora is expected out sometime early next year. Ghost is with Maiden tonight in Midland, TX. (Thanks Pulse Of Radio.)
Metallica frontman James Hetfield was asked in a recent interview with WLS-TV in Chicago how the iconic metal act goes about selecting its opening acts. Hetfield explained, “When we go out and tour, we try and bring bands out that have either done well on their own or we get along with or we just like their music. There’s gotta be some connection. It’s not, ‘Oh, they’re hot right now. Bring ’em out.’ But you have a history with them, you get along really well. That’s one of the main things about touring — just getting along with people.”
On its current North American stadium tour, Metallica has Volbeat and Avenged Sevenfold out with them, with Gojira coming on board later this summer. Volbeat has toured several times with Metallica and frontman Michael Poulsen told us it’s been a positive experience every time: “It’s always great when you meet your idols that they’re down to earth and that’s exactly what Metallica is. They’re very human. They’re good to the bands. They’re good people. But of course, you learn a lot when you meet your idols who are down to earth. It’s very, you know, very inspiring.“
Metallica is touring behind its 10th studio album and first in eight years, Hardwired…To Self-Destruct, which arrived last November. Volbeat is on the road in support of its sixth studio effort, Seal The Deal & Let’s Boogie. Metallica’s current North American stadium tour is on a break for a couple of weeks but resumes on July 5th in Orlando, FL. (Thanks Pulse Of Radio)
Eleven Seven recording artist Nothing More will hit the hardDriveRadio studios today with Paulie Walnuts, so be ready to check that out on future editions of hardDriveRadio and the hardDrive DL podcast! The San Antonio band will be on tour with Hell or Highwater and As Lions starting Sep 12th. Their second album, The Stories We Tell Ourselves, drops Sep 15th and the band has released their first single, “Go To War,” and also posted the grat track, “Don’t Stop.” Definitely next level for this quartet. I understand they also have replaced the “Bassinator” with “The Scorpion Tail,” a new hand-crafted stage instrument that will have fans talking for some time.
Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins (no relation to Jonny Hawkins of Nothing More) sat down with Entertainment Tonight Canada‘s Rick Campanelli in Iceland at their recent Summer Solstice festival stop. Love me some Dave on a Monday morning, don’t you?
Loudwire confirms Slipknot has revealed that Knotfest Mexico will return for a third edition on Oct 28th at the Foro Pegaso in Toluca, Mexico. The lineup has yet to be announced for the event, which last took place in 2016 and featured Avenged Sevenfold, Marilyn Manson, Disturbed, Deftones, Chevelle and more in addition to the headliners. There are also rumors afoot that a second Ozzfest Meets Knotfest is in the works for this fall, once again in San Bernardino, CA. An official announcement on that festival is expected on July 10th. With Slipknot currently on hiatus, it is unclear who would headline either show.
Meanwhile, catch Lou Brutus tonight at the Korn, Stone Sour tour stop in Pocatello, ID! Thanks to KCVI K-BEAR 101.5 and Viktor Wilt for bringing Lou out for the show!
Happy 62nd today to Mick Jones of The Clash and Big Audio Dynamite!