They’re baaacccckkkk!
Well, today’s the big day when Avenged Sevenfold will perform in Hollywood, CA. But according to a report from Blabbermouth, they’re doing more than that! They will be releasing their new album tonight at midnight. The news has already spread from Europe and Canada, where either in-store displays or online sales links have been seen.
According to this photo from German music chain, MusikUniverse, the album is called The Stage and it contains 11 tracks, including an epic 15:39 track “Exist” and the current single, “The Stage.”
We don’t know much more about this, but I am sure more will be revealed later today. Stay tuned and hit avengedsevenfold.com to find out how you can watch tonight’s performance!
My boys Kornhave released a new music video for the next single, “Take Me.” Pulse Of Radio says “Take Me” was the fourth track to be highlighted off the new record before its arrival on Friday, Oct 21st, following “Insane,” “Rotting In Vain” and “A Different World,” the latter of which features a guest appearance by Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor.
Davis told us the writing of “Take Me” was directly inspired by country artist Brad Paisley‘s song “Alcohol”: “Brad Paisley, country artist, who I think is a shredder on guitar, he’s an amazing player, I mean he’s — I really like Brad Paisley a lot. I heard his song ‘Alcohol’ years ago, and it just inspired me, like, ‘I want to do my own version of that.’ ‘Cause his is really funny — he talks about making white people dance and (laughs) like all kinds of funny stuff. But mine is more way darker.”
The Serenity Of Suffering is the 12th studio album from the veteran California act and first since 2013’s The Paradigm Shift. The disc marks a shift back toward the heavier sound of the band’s early records, with Rolling Stone calling it “possibly their heaviest album ever” but adding that it’s hampered by songwriting that is “Korn-by-numbers.”
Korn has just one North American show on its schedule for the rest of 2016, in Phoenix on Dec 3rd.
He’s baaacccck! (I love using that!) The Pulse Of Radio also reporting Asking Alexandria played its first show since reuniting with original singer Danny Worsnop on Tuesday night (Oct 25th) in Seattle. The reunion was confirmed this past weekend, following weeks of rumors and speculation regarding the status of Worsnop’s replacement, Denis Stoff, who joined the band in 2015. Tuesday night’s gig kicked off the 10 Years in The Black tour, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the band’s label Sumerian Records.
Asking Alexandria’s 13-song set did not feature any tunes off the band’s sole album with Stoff, The Black, but did reach back into the group’s catalog with Worsnop to play songs that had not been performed live in four or five years. It was also revealed this week that Asking Alexandria has gone into the studio with Worsnop to record a new song. Producer Matt Good, who has been mixing the track, said online, “Mixing an amazing new Asking Alexandria song at the moment featuring the return of Danny, who absolutely crushed the vocals. Damn damn.”
Guitarist Ben Bruce said in a video message earlier this week that Stoff had “just stopped talking to us.” But the singer later tweeted, “I left AA because I can’t be in a touring band at this point in my life. There’s no drama and I don’t want to be a part of it.” For his part, Worsnop said about the reunion, “I’m now in a place mentally where this is something I can embrace again, with the men I started this crazy journey with.” Asking Alexandria next plays in Spokane, WA tonight (Oct 27th).
Breaking the glass ceiling!
Congrats to The Pretty Reckless! I was just sent this info regarding their new record. The Pretty Reckless becomes the first act to send its first four entries to No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Songs airplay chart (which began in 1981), as “Take Me Down” rises 2-1 on the chart dated Nov. 5. Previously, the Taylor Momsen-led quartet had matched 3 Doors Down, which sent its first three titles to the top in 2000-01 (beginning with the nine-week No. 1 “Kryptonite” in 2000). The Pretty Reckless first crowned the chart with “Heaven Knows” for five weeks in 2014. The group’s other two leaders before its latest: “Messed Up World” (four weeks, 2014) and “Follow Me Down” (one, 2015).
The Pretty Reckless also extends its record for the most No. 1s by a female fronted group on the chart, with four. With four straight No. 1s, The Pretty Reckless becomes one of only seven acts to send at least four straight titles to the top of Mainstream Rock Songs. Only one band has been able to notch five in a row, Three Days Grace: Most Consecutive Mainstream Rock Songs No. 1s 5, Three Days Grace, 2012-15 (“Chalk Outline” through “I Am Machine”) 4, The Pretty Reckless, 4, 2014-16 (“Heaven Knows” through “Take Me Down”) 4, Volbeat, 2012-13 (“Still Counting” through “Lola Montez”) 4, Shinedown, 2010-12 (“The Crow & the Butterfly” through “Unity”) 4, Puddle of Mudd, 2002-03 (“Blurry” through “Away from Me”) 4, Collective Soul, 1996-97 (“The World I Know” through “Listen”) 4, The Black Crowes, 1992 (“Remedy” through “Hotel Illness”.)
“Take Me Down” is the first single from The Pretty Reckless’ third studio album, Who You Selling For, released Oct. 21. The group’s previous LP, 2014’s Going to Hell, debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200, selling 35,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen Music. It has sold 225,000 to date. The act’s 2011 debut, Light Me Up, reached No. 65 and has sold 132,000.
Art Of Anarchy stopped by yesterday!
Paulie Walnuts interviewed Art Of Anarchy yesterday. The band also did an acoustic session for us, so you can be looking for that very soon. The Pulse Of Radio says guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal said in a new interview with Team Rock that Scott Stapp is thriving as the group’s new lead singer, adding the band is providing a healthy environment for Stapp as he continues his fight to stay sober. Thal explained, “The band, Art Of Anarchy, is drug free. Me and the Votta brothers (guitarist Jon and drummer Vince) have never even smoked a cigarette, none of us drink, have never done drugs, never smoked pot or anything like that.“
Thal continued, “So that’s good, because the last thing you need on the road if you’re trying to stay clean is a bunch of people doing that around you. Scott is doing well . . . It’s great that he has a strong family and a lot of people that care and support and that were there to help him get out of that situation. Now he’s better than ever.”
Stapp joined the band earlier this year, following a highly publicized, drug-enhanced meltdown in late 2014, after which he entered rehab program and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Their current single is “The Madness” and you can see the video above.
Stapp told us he was touring as a solo artist again when he was approached about joining: “I really wasn’t looking for a band, but I was definitely curious. I wanted to see what it was all about. I love writing with talented people and I think that’s really what made the decision for me, was to sit in a room with Ron, Jon and Vince and throw out ideas, trade ideas and realize, ‘Hey, there’s something that could come of this.’”
Stapp replaced the late Scott Weiland, who appeared on the supergroup’s self-titled 2015 debut album. Weiland distanced himself from the band at the time of the record’s release, saying he was simply a hired hand. Thal now says that Weiland’s vocals were added to the debut after all the tracks had been written and recorded, whereas Stapp is a full member and is involved in every aspect of the band’s sophomore effort. That disc is around two-thirds complete, with a release planned for early 2017.
Art of Anarchy will play its first-ever live show at New York’s Gramercy Theatre tonight (Oct 27th.)
Here are some Rock Briefs from The Pulse Of Radio:
- Metallica filmed another new music video on Wednesday (Oct 26th) in Puerto Rico, shortly before the band was scheduled to perform there that evening. The group did not reveal which song the clip is for, but it presumably another track from Metallica’s new album, Hardwired…To Self-Destruct, which arrives on November 18th. A new song called “Atlas, Rise!” will be unveiled on Monday (Oct 31st). (Blabbermouth)
- Green Day and Twenty One Pilots have been added to the list of performers for the 2016 American Music Awards. While Green Day performed at the 2009 AMAs, this will be Twenty One Pilot’s first appearance on the show. Twenty One Pilots are also nominated for three awards during the night, including Artist of the Year, Favorite Pop/Rock Group and Favorite Alternative Rock Artist. The AMAs will broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Nov 20th at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC. (Billboard)
- Muse has shared a cryptic teaser on Twitter for what the band is calling its “Halloween Special.” The clip gives next to nothing away, leading fans to speculate that the trio could be livecasting a one-off Halloween-themed gig or possibly unveiling some new music. Muse recently completed the touring cycle for its 2015 album Drones. (NME)
- An attorney for Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan argued in a Tennessee courtroom on Wednesday (Oct 26th) that Nashville-based TNA Wrestling is unable to pay its bills and negotiating with its investors to stave off failure. Corgan is suing TNA, just months after being named its president, and seeking an injunction that would give him control of the company. TNA has argued that it has offers to sell which prove it is not insolvent, while insolvency would trigger a contractual clause that would put Corgan in charge. (The Tennessean)
I’ll be on the hotLine later today with Brent Smith of Shinedown! The band is currently on tour with Five Finger Death Punch. Yesterday I spent about 45 mins talking to Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction. I love talking to him. We shared a lot of experiences as kids and how we formed our love of music. It is certainly going to be something if they are inducted this year in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I hope they get in this time. It is the second time they’ve been nominated.
Happy 65th today to former Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing and Happy 32nd to Kelly Osbourne!