San Diego-based metallists CAGE are set to return on October 30th, with the release of their latest metallic tour de force, 'Ancient Evil,' which has been prefaced by a lyric video for the killer composition, "The Procedure".
"We really love how creepy the video came out, it's like a mini movie almost," explains singer Sean "The Hell Destroyer" Peck. "This song will give people a good idea of what they are in for on this massive, heavy metal, horror story thrill ride!" Rounding out the band are Dave "Conan" Garcia (guitars), Casey "The Sentinel" Trask (guitars), Alex "The Captain" Pickard (bass guitar), and Sean "The Thrash Machine" Elg (drums).
Based on a horror novel written by lead singer Sean Peck, 'Ancient Evil' continues the legacy of Cage as a heavy metal innovator. This nearly 80-minute monstrosity has 19 tracks that combine songs and narrated interludes to forge a unique musical journey that rocks!
However, according to Sean, making a concept record work is never an easy task - "With this being our 7th release, we wanted to try our hand at another concept album. We had great success with 'Hell Destroyer,' but doing a scary story type of thing and making the songs catchy and memorable while keeping the listener captivated by the content, is a real challenge."
The story's main character, Elliot Worthington, is played by none other than ex-Iron Maiden frontman Blaze Bayley. "I did not want to do any of the character voices this time, so we got some really great talent to act out the scenes. Blaze did an incredible job. His acting chops were freaking great, I have to say," says Peck. "The writing for this record came together effortlessly even though it was a concept record. It is pretty much just blazing fast the whole way through which is just how I like it!"
And soon, metalheads will be able to experience Cage's latest metal masterpiece.
The Metal Voice (https://www.facebook.com/themetalvoice) was at this years Cathouse Live Festival celebrating 80's Hair Metal. Neil Turbin (Deathriders Ex Anthrax) reporting, caught up with the former host of the Headbangers ball and organizer of the festival Riki Rachtman. Turbin also spoke to 1980’s hair metal bands Autograph, Enuff Z Nuff and drum wiz Bobby Jarzombek from the Sebastian Bach band (Halford, and Fates Warning).
The Cathouse was a famous Rock club in Hollywood in the 1980’s managed and owned by Riki Rachtman where many famous bands like Guns and Roses, Motley Crue etc..broke ground. It was the cool place to be, now turned into a festival.
On why Riki Rachtman decided to put on the Cathouse Festival “When I set this thing up I just wanted everyone to have fun and everyone is having fun.”
On plans to branch out and do more Cathouse festivals “Everybody is asking me. LiveNation is already saying they want to do one next year, Next year is the 30 year anniversary of the Cathouse so I am not really sure what I got planned but I’m gonna do something fun.”
Asked if Riki Rachtman has ever tried to bring back Headbangers Ball “It’s not gonna happen. I tried, I told them I would do it for free, they never even returned my calls.”
On Autograph’s new album and tour “We have been touring for a year and a half. We have recorded two new songs and just recorded two more. We did a live recordings for ‘Turn up the Radio’. We are going to have an E.P. with the four new songs and ‘Turn up the radio’.” Steve Lynch
Asking Chip Z Nuff on his Cathouse memories “I remember Guns and Roses sets, Jet boy I might have played there a couple of times. No Big stories just a great rock club that bands would frequent, eventually a few of them made it.”
Asking Bobby Zarombek on the status of the new Sebastian Bach album and Fates Warning new records “Sebastian is now starting to work on another record and the label wants him to put something out pretty quick. He’s excited about it. He just mentioned it today. Like come in with your ideas, giving us the go ahead to come up with some cool shit. I have a couple of personal ideas that might work for him and I know everybody in the band does”
‘We are working on a new record (Fates Warning), it’s going to be in 2016 and it’s going to be really cool. All the material is written.”
LIVE REPORT:
By Gerry Gittelson
Melodicrock.com Los Angeles correspondent
LOS ANGELES -- The American brand of classic glam band Sweet, featuring original bassist Steve Priest, plays just a handful of concerts per year, so it's a rare treat to catch 'em, especially in adopted hometown Los Angeles.
The group with a penchant for ultra-catchy songs performed on before a near-capacity crowd at the Canyon Club, and the performance was a rousing success.
Opening with a nice-and-loud rendition of "Action," Sweet stuck mostly to the hits, and that meant a whopping total of six selections from the band's iconic album "Desolation Boulevard," including "Fox on The Run" and "Ballroom Blitz," the two crowning jewels of the evening.
Singer Joe Retta was terrific. His vocals are about as close to the late Brian Connolly as you're going to get, and wow was the curly-haired American spot-on with "Love Is Like Oxygen" and "Sweet FA." Since joining seven years ago, Retta continues to gain confidence and charmisa, and he now has more panache than before.
Guitarist Mitch Perry joined just recently, replacing Stuart Smith (who has opted to focus only on his band Heaven & Earth), and Perry proved spectacular. He looks, he sounds great, and he's got the perfect rock and roll attitude that screams rockstar.
You've got to have Priest, of course, who will be 68 in February, and the stocky bassist still has a cool vibe in addition to playing well and also offering ocassional lead vocals.
And then there is drummer Richie Onori, among the best in the world. He was bashing for all he was worth on "Set Me Free," followed by "Blockbuster," and the crowd was going crazy.
Keyboardist Stevie Stewart was barefooted and wore a kilt -- which was a little weird -- and in case no would noticed, he continually pranced around the stage.
In all, an extraordinarily successful night for the kings of glam rock. May Sweet live on forever.
Famed bassist RUDY SARZO joins Mitch on Episode 151 of One On One With Mitch Lafon. He discusses his new bands Devil City Angels & Gunzo, working with Ronnie James Dio, Ozzy Osbourne, Geoff Tate, the great lost gem (band and album) Manic Eden, Randy Rhoads, Animetal USA, Quiet Riot and why he's not currently in the band, and much more.
Speaking of Frankie Banali & Quiet Riot: "I am a huge supporter of what he's doing. I'm so glad that he is carrying the legacy of the band. I'm so happy for Frankie and Quiet Riot's legacy."
Mental Health: "Throughout music history, you have some pivot points. Ours was MTV. With Cum On Feel The Noize we were on every half hour. That really really made the difference. It came out in March and by November we had hit #1 on the Billboard charts."
Geoff Tate's Queensrÿche: "Geoff really needs to have his vision realized (he's an incredible artist). He has this idea in his head - this is what the record is going to sound like. This is what the music is going to be like. I felt that I didn't have that much room myself for any creative participation (which is fine), but I felt that I had done as much as I can under the circumstances."
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Whitesnake guitarist JOEL HOEKSTRA joins Mitch on Episode 150 of One On One With Mitch Lafon. He discusses his new Joel Hoekstra's 13 'Dying To Live' album, working on new material with David Coverdale, joining Whitesnake, being at a crossroads in life, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, his earlier solo albums and more. This episode also includes a quick interview recorded with WARRANT's Robert Mason & Erik Turner backstage at Heavy Montreal.
Presented by SpectiCast and Tempest Films, “Forever And A Day” captures the history of one of the most influential bands in music history – following them for 18 months with an insightful look into the dynamic that has kept them at the top of the metal community. Filmmaker Katja von Garnier accompanied the Scorpions on their ‘Final Sting’ dates - originally the band’s farewell tour around the globe, from Bangkok via Los Angeles to Moscow, the resulting documentary “Forever and a Day” is a moving portrait of their unique history, packed with candid moments and Scorpions’ memories, culminating with the decision to scrap their retirement plans. Klaus Meine adds, “I think it'll be a really special film for our fans."
The title, “Forever And A Day,” outlines the philosophy Scorpions have internalized since their early days. In the Eighties of the past century, they wrapped it up in the slogan “Don‘t Stop At The Top” (allegorical: Never rest on your laurels). They simply are travelers, who always seek new challenges, overcoming all obstacles along the way.
Scorpions continue their global assault in support of their 19th studio album, Return to Forever (Sony Music/Legacy Recordings), just released September 11, with North American dates (see below). For additional info please visit www.The-Scorpions.com.
Founded in Hannover, West Germany in 1965, Scorpions were part of the first wave of metal in the 1970’s with their debut album, Lonesome Crow, released in 1972. The band rose to arena status with seminal releases Lovedrive, Virgin Killer and Animal Magnetism. In the 80s, Scorpions amassed a string of Billboard chart toppers from Love at Fiirst Sting and Blackout, including multiple Top 10 singles "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and "No One Like You," as well a string of successful singles such as "Send Me an Angel," "Still Loving You" and "Wind of Change." The band was also ranked #46 on VH1's Greatest Artists of Hard Rock and their hit "Rock You Like a Hurricane" also landed as #18 on VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs. Celebrated across the globe, the iconic rock act have sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, and have received multiple honors including World Music Award winners, a postage stamp in Brazil, their Star on Hollywood Rock Walk, Echo honors, most recently they were honored with the Lower Saxon State Award.
Scorpions Return to Forever 50th Anniversary Tour, featuring longtime members Klaus Meine, Rudolf Schenker and Matthias Jabs, alongside James Kottak (drums) and Paweł Mąciwoda (bass), kicked off in May 2015 with dates on four continents. For these milestone shows Scorpions have built a career-spanning setlist of their hits, anthems, ballads and vintage classics. In September 2015, Scorpions released their 19th studio album, Return To Forever, and embarked on the first leg of their North American tour featuring special guests Queensryche.
About SpectiCast
SpectiCast is the fastest growing event cinema marketing and distribution company in the world, providing specialty film programs, cultural arts events, contemporary music programs, and other alternative content to over 4,500 theatrical and non-theatrical venues in 60 countries around the globe. SpectiCast provides content rights holders with turnkey access to theatrical and all downstream digital platforms including DVD, VOD and TV and has distributed programs from some of the world’s most prestigious cultural arts organizations including the Strafford Festival, Opera de Paris, The Salzburg Festival, The Paris Opera Ballet, the Mariinsky Theatre, the British Museum, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. SpectiCast has also partnered with some of the world’s most renowned entertainment companies including Universal Music, Sony, EagleRock Entertainment, and Fathom Events. SpectiCast is a privately owned and operated firm based in Philadelphia, PA. For more information please visit: www.specticast.com.
Remaining dates of the first leg of their North American tour:
DateCityVenue September 18 Toronto, ON Canada Molson Canadian Amphitheatre September 19 Montreal, QC Canada Bell Centre September 22 Columbus, OH LC Pavilion September 23 Cleveland, OH Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica September 25 Windsor, ON Canada Caesar's Windsor TBA September 26 Chicago, IL Allstate Arena September 29 Denver, CO Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre October 1 San Jose, CA SAP Center October 3 Los Angeles, CA The Forum October 6 Santa Barbara, CA Santa Barbara Bowl October 7 Las Vegas, NV Hard Rock Hotel October 9 Seattle, WA ShoWare Center
Check out the new lyric video from Operation: Mindcrime. This video for the song, "The Stranger," is off the band's forthcoming album, The Key, and marks its third video release from the new project.
If you missed Operation: Mindcrime's debut video for the song, "Re-Inventing The Future," it can be seen at https://youtu.be/vX7lRZmt8Hw .
